Andre Onana was furious after being dropped by Cameroon (Getty)
Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana considered leaving Cameroon’s Africa Cup of Nations squad after a row with Samuel Eto’o this week, according to reports.
Onana has been heavily criticised for delaying his arrival to AFCON as he opted to play for United in their 2-2 draw with Tottenham on January 14 before flying out to the Ivory Coast later that evening.
Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song had already planned not to start Onana for his side’s Group C opener against Guinea but did not expect the United goalkeeper to arrive just hours before kick-off after adverse weather conditions diverted his flight.
Onana was recalled to the team for Cameroon’s second group game but delivered a poor performance in the 3-1 defeat to reigning AFCON champions Senegal.
For Cameroon’s crucial final group game against Gambia on Tuesday, Onana was dropped to the bench with Fabrice Ondoa, who is his cousin, given his second appearance of the tournament.
Cameroon ran out 3-2 winners in a thrilling match which secured their place in the last-16 against Nigeria, which kicks off on Saturday evening.
Andre Onana expects to be benched for Cameroon’s last-16 tie against Nigeria on Saturday (AFP via Getty)
Reports emerged after the game that Onana had been involved in a ‘verbal altercation’ with Eto’o, who is the president of Cameroon’s Football Federation, after being told that he was dropped from the starting line-up.
According to the Daily Star, Onana considered the option of withdrawing from Cameroon’s squad before putting his personal differences with Eto’o to one side.
The report adds that Onana expects to be named as a substitute for Cameroon’s clash with Nigeria.
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‘It was Song who decided to change the goalkeepers and put Ondoa back as No.1 following a meeting with players from the team,’ a source close to the Cameroon squad told Sports News Africa about Onana’s row with Eto’o.
‘It was only this morning that he found out he wasn’t playing. He had a verbal altercation with Eto’o but the latter did not respond to him.
‘Onana lost his temper on his own before calming down and remaining in the group to accept his fate.’
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The United goalkeeper was at the centre of a bust-up with Samuel Eto’o after he was dropped from the starting line-up.