Source: REUTERS/CARL RECINE
[Saba Sports News] According to British media reports, Manchester
United goalkeeper Andre Onana returned to the Cameroon national team under
political pressure. It is reported that during the 2022 World Cup, Onana left
Qatar after the first round of the group stage and withdrew from the national
team due to disagreements with the coaching staff and the management of the
Football Association. However, at the beginning of the year, there was a push
from Cameroonian government leaders for players to return to the national team.
In Cameroon, certain decisions in sports can go beyond the realm of athletics
and have political implications. Onana faced the challenge of balancing his
club commitments with the upcoming African Cup of Nations and had to navigate
discussions between government representatives and Manchester United.
Ultimately, it was decided that Onana would return to the national team
immediately after participating in the game against Tottenham Hotspur on
January 14. The Cameroon coaching staff was unsure for a long time whether
Onana would join the team, leading them to include four goalkeepers in their
squad as a precautionary measure.