Manchester United is in a tough spot, and the fans are blaming club goalkeeper Andre Onana for the Red Devils’ poor performance. United is currently in tenth place in the Premier League, having only nine points. The club also failed to win any of its UEFA Champions League group-stage matches this season.
Despite receiving hatred from the fans, Andre Onana is still dedicated to doing anything he can for his club, and the Cameroonian keeper may also miss AFCON 2024 for United.
Andre Onana reluctant for AFCON duty
Manchester United signed Andre Onana from 2023 UCL runner-up Inter Milan. The Cameroonian keeper’s performance for his old club was remarkable, but he is having some problems at United. Onana has conceded 18 goals in 10 matches, and his mistake also earned Casemiro a red card in Manchester United’s last game against Galatasaray.
Club manager Erik Ten Hag is confident that the keeper will make a comeback. “We are happy with our goalkeeping group,” said Ten Hag after his UCL defeat. “Andre was in one semifinal of the Champions League [with Ajax]; he was in the final last season [with Inter], so he has the capabilities to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world, and he has shown that. We have already seen in games his great capabilities as well as his personality. He will bounce back.”
The 27-year-old has been called up to represent Cameroon in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2024. Onana is reluctant to leave for international duty as it will cause him to miss a month of the Premier League. Though he has been receiving a lot of hate, the player still wants to be there for his club and help them as much as he can.
United keeper decided to unretire for Cameroon last month
Andre Onana did not make an appearance for Cameroon for most of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. He had an argument with his coach, Rigobert Song, over tactics, due to which he was kept out of Cameroon’s second game against Serbia. The keeper flew home after that, not making any more appearances in the tournament.
The 27-year-old announced his retirement in December last year but decided to come back in September 2023 due to his love for his country and his people. “In recent months, I have been confronted with trials marked by injustice and manipulation. Yet my unshakeable love and attachment to my homeland, Cameroon, remain intact,” said Onana.
Andre Onana has still not announced whether or not he will support his country in the AFCON 2024 or not, so we will have to wait for an official statement from the keeper himself.
