Since early on Tuesday morning, there is no turning back. Andre Onana has been forced forced to leave the 2022 World Cup.
The Cameroon and Inter goalkeeper is on his way to Doha International Airport. This Tuesday he will fly to Cameroon, as was first reported on Monday.
The goalkeeper has had an uncomfortable and difficult last few hours. After starting against Switzerland in the opening match in Qatar, the relationship with his coach was strained to the point of no return.
The reason was the style of play; Rigobert Song asked him not to come out of the box and to opt for long passes instead of relying on his technique to build the play from the back.
In Saturday’s session, just before the second matchday, the situation got out of hand. And that same night, the coaching staff acted decisively.
They were supported by the African federation, with Samuel Eto’o, Onana’s footballing father, at the head: Song informed Devis Epassy to be prepared because he would start, as he himself told MARCA in the mixed zone after the 3-3 draw against Serbia.
Andre Onana will issue a statement
That draw was followed by Onana from Cameroon‘s training hotel, planning his return flight. Song‘s words at a press conference, leaving the door open to reconciliation, paused his departure.
However, nothing happened to change the script and the goalkeeper waited to receive direct communication from the organization’s directors before taking action.
In the evening, the Cameroon Football Federation announced Onana’s temporary suspension. From then on, the process accelerated.
The goalkeeper is thus forced to withdraw from the World Cup in an unpleasant and abrupt way. He will soon issue a statement to give his version of what happened, while his team will try to qualify for the round of 16 on Friday.
[via]
