Andre Onana was reportedly fuming at his AFCON snub by Cameroon, with the Manchester United keeper asking: “Why did I come on a private jet?”
The Red Devils star figured for his club in a Premier League clash with Tottenham on Sunday, before immediately making his way to John Lennon Airport in Liverpool and catching a flight to the Ivory Coast to link up with his national team.
He could not land in Yamoussoukro – where Cameroon were kicking off their Africa Cup of Nations campaign against Guinea – but did complete a 5,000-mile journey three hours before that game got underway. Onana was still left out of Rigobert Song’s matchday squad, with Fabrice Ondoa taking on starting duties while Devis Epassy and Simon Ngapandouetnbu filled spots on the bench.
Onana reportedly had to be calmed down by former Liverpool and Senegal star El Hadji Diouf, with the 27-year-old shot-stopper said to have bellowed in the direction of Cameroon’s coaching team: “If I wasn’t going to play or make the team, then why did I come here on a private jet?”
Onana has endured a strained relationship with Song, leading to him being sent home from the 2022 World Cup. An international retirement decision was reversed to join AFCON plans in 2024. Still, a man that has struggled for form at Old Trafford now has to convince his head coach that he should figure against Senegal on Friday – with the Indomitable Lions being held to a 1-1 draw in their opening game of another quest to savour continental glory.
