Aoba Tanaka 
In a stunning turn of events, Manchester United goalkeeper Onana found himself on the bench for Cameroon’s crucial final group game against The Gambia in the ongoing AFCON tournament. The decision to drop Onana, made by none other than Cameroon’s Football Association President, Samuel Eto’o, has sparked controversy and reignited tensions between the two.
The must-win match against The Gambia unfolded as a rollercoaster, with Cameroon initially leading 1-0 until the 72nd minute when Ablie Jallow leveled the score. Ebrima Colley’s 85th-minute goal was met with an immediate response as James Gomez netted an own goal, and Christopher Wooh secured the dramatic victory in injury time.
According to reports from I News, the strained relationship between Eto’o and Onana dates back to the goalkeeper’s brief retirement from international football after being sent home from the Qatar World Cup. The disagreement stemmed from Onana’s approach to playing out from the back. Despite public pressure, Eto’o initially excluded Onana from the squad but later included him.
Onana’s frustration escalated as he was left out of the opening game against Guinea, a match that ended in a draw. He did not feature in the victory over Gambia either. When he did play against Senegal, Cameroon suffered a 3-1 defeat.
Speculations arise regarding Eto’o’s influence on team selection, and whether Onana will see playing time in the knockout stages. Although Cameroon secured qualification with the recent win, the ongoing rift between Eto’o and Onana raises doubts about the goalkeeper’s role in the remainder of the competition.
As the AFCON tournament unfolds, the controversy surrounding team selection adds an extra layer of intrigue to Cameroon’s journey, leaving fans and pundits alike eager to see how the situation evolves in the knockout stages.
