Manchester United will reportedly face a setback as goalkeeper Andre Onana has decided to join his Cameroonian national team for the AFCON tournament. This means he will miss several crucial fixtures for his club.
Previously, Onana had stepped away from international football due to a dispute with Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, resulting in his removal from the 2022 World Cup squad during the tournament in Qatar.
However, the two have resolved their differences, leading to Onana’s return to the national team.
Onana has already made appearances in the AFCON qualifier against Burundi in September and a friendly against Senegal during the October international break.
As per iNews, he has now given his consent to represent the Indomitable Lions in the continental tournament, set to commence on January 13 in the Ivory Coast.
If Cameroon performs well in the tournament and reaches the final, Manchester United will have to do without Onana’s services in four Premier League matches, two FA Cup ties, and a potential Carabao Cup semi-final.
Onana has been steadily settling into his new club and played a crucial role in United’s recent Champions League victory over FC Copenhagen, where he saved an injury-time penalty to secure three points.
He was one of the better performers in the 3-0 derby defeat to Manchester City last weekend, too, and his efforts were further acknowledged when he came 23rd in the 2023 Ballon d’Or vote after a brilliant previous season with the Nerrazurri.