Andre Onana plan backfires as Man Utd stopper misses Cameroon's first AFCON match
Despite his plans to be available in time for Cameroon's AFCON curtain-raiser against Guinea, Manchester United man Andre Onana missed the match after his flight was grounded
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana couldn't live up to his promise of playing in Cameroon's AFCON opener after all.
Onana played the 90 minutes for his club on Sunday as Erik ten Hag's side drew 2-2 at home to Tottenham. The 27-year-old agreed with Cameroon's coaches that he would play the Premier League fixture before jetting to the Ivory Coast to represent his country 24 hours later - but was unable to do so.
That's after it was revealed bad weather saw his private plane was diverted to Abidjan in the Ivory Coast, around 150 miles from where his country raised the curtain on its campaign in Yamoussoukro. The Indomitable Lions have been tasked with a difficult route to the AFCON knockout stages after being named in Group C opposite Guinea, Senegal and Gambia.
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The Manchester Evening News reported weather conditions in Yamoussoukro made it impossible for Onana to complete his journey as planned. As a result, Nimes stopper Fabrice Ondoa started between the posts against Guinea at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
And it appeared to hurt Rigobert Song's side after some uncertain defending resulted in Guinea taking an early lead against his side. Le Havre striker Mohamed Bayo (on loan from Lille) pounced to score in the ninth minute despite Ondoa's best efforts following a disastrous attempt to play out from the back.
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It's understood Onana completed his journey by car after Yamoussoukro Airport was surrounded by fog. And those additional hours may have made all the difference as he was unable to represent his country in a crucial fixture.
Guinea may well be the easiest opponent in Cameroon's group considering Senegal won the AFCON in 2021, the same year Gambia made their first quarter-final appearance. And Onana's decision to stay on and prove his loyalties to United may end up impacting his country if they make an early exit in the Ivory Coast.
Ten Hag's team aren't back in action until January 28 when they'll face either Newport County or Eastleigh in the fourth round of the FA Cup. Summer signing Altay Bayindir - who joined from Fenerbahce in the summer - could get his chance to start that game in Onana's absence having yet to make his senior United debut.
However, a group-stage AFCON exit could mean Onana is back in time to retain his spot in time for that clash. Cameroon's final group game against Gambia is scheduled for January 24, by which point a top-two finish in their pool may already be unfeasible.