Man Utd star Andre Onana slammed for ‘sending bad message’ and ‘showing lack of respect’ over Afcon 2023 decision
MANCHESTER UNITED keeper Andre Onana has “sent a bad message” and shown a “lack of respect” for Cameroon by missing their Africa Cup of Nations opener.
The keeper, 27, came out of international retirement five months ago and looked set to be available for his country’s first match of the tournament against Guinea on Monday.
It was then revealed he would play for Man Utd against Tottenham on Sunday, before flying out to start for Cameroon just 24 hours later.
However, the tight turnaround has proven too much and he will not be available for the Guinea clash.
Former Tottenham centre-back Sebastien Bassong believes Onana‘s decision to prioritise his club over his country is a damaging one.
And the ex-Cameroon defender, who earned 15 caps for his country, feels the shot-stopper should be punished for his actions by not featuring at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Speaking to the BBC, he said: “It’s out of order from both sides. It’s disrespectful from Manchester United to request Onana to do such a thing and it’s really low from Onana to even consider it.
“It sends such a bad message for not only Cameroon, but for the respect that people will have for Afcon and the way they should treat us.
“If we can’t even respect ourselves, how can we expect other people to treat us any different? For me, Andre Onana is shooting us and himself in the foot.
“If I was in the squad I wouldn’t be having any of that. You can’t play a game the day before and think you can just fly out to the continent and play another game.
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“Just the thought of it drives me crazy, I’m so disappointed.
“For me, you’ve got to teach him a lesson. I like Andre, I always have his back but when things like this happen, the pride of the country and the continent is way above an individual person.
“For me he should stay home and get punished for that.”
When Onana eventually leaves Man Utd to head to the Ivory Coast, he could be missing until February 11 if Cameroon reach the final.
That would see him absent for the Red Devils’ FA Cup fourth-round clash with Newport or Eastleigh, along with their Premier League games against Wolves, West Ham and Aston Villa.
Turkish shot-stopper Altay Bayindir, who joined Man Utd in the summer and is yet to make his debut for the club, is expected to deputise for Onana.
Cameroon are five-time winners of the Africa Cup of Nations, with Egypt [7] the only country to have triumphed on more occasions.
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