Goalkeeper Andre Onana, aged 27, is poised to return to Cameroon’s starting lineup for their upcoming Africa Cup of Nations group game against defending champions Senegal on Friday.
Onana missed Cameroon’s first match of the tournament in the Ivory Coast on Monday as he was permitted to stay at Manchester United and participate in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.
After the match at Old Trafford, he flew to the Ivory Coast by charter plane overnight but arrived just hours before kick-off against Guinea, resulting in a 1-1 draw for Cameroon.
The decision to allow him to miss the opening match sparked controversy among Cameroon supporters.
In a post-arrival interview in the Ivory Coast, Onana spoke about the challenging balance of loyalty between club and country, particularly for African internationals compelled to leave their European clubs mid-season to compete in the Cup of Nations.
“It’s like choosing between my father and my mother, but my country comes first; that’s why I’m here,” he said
“Let people continue to criticise me. I’m used to it. I do what is good for my country,” Onana added.
Onana has a chequered history with Cameroon after breaking through into the team while still a teenager at Ajax Amsterdam.
He did, however, participate in the most recent Cup of Nations two years ago, just months after returning from a protracted doping ban.
He declined a call-up to the 2017 Cup of Nations finals, which Cameroon went on to win, and was sent home after one match at the last World Cup in Qatar due to a disagreement with coach Rigobert Song, which has since been resolved.