Andre Onana’s already faint hopes of a World Cup spot are all but over after critique of the president of the Cameroon federation, Samuel Eto’o.
Playing for Trabzonspor on loan from Manchester United, Onana has been in and out of the Cameroon squad through the years due to clashes with the federation.
Having last played for the Indomitable Lions in November, he was dropped from the AFCON squad in December with sacked coach Marc Brys saying it was Eto’o trying to mitigate big personalities coming out against him.
Now, almost four months later, Onana has suggested exactly that.
Onana hits out at Eto’o
“I don’t have a problem with Fécafoot itself,” he said in a social media interview.
“I disagree with an individual who uses the federation and the national team to settle scores. If you don’t agree, you’re kicked off.
“I took a lot of hits for the love of our country. I was forced into retirement, but today I can only support our younger brothers.”
The comments put Eto’o in a Catch 22 according to Sport News Africa, with the Inter and Barcelona treble winner realising banning Onana will indeed look like ‘settling scores’.
Instead, disciplinary action against Onana will be addressed at the next general meeting in an effort to find a collective solution to take the heat off the president.
They add that ‘Among the options being considered is a multi-year suspension from the national team’.
A source from Onana’s side told the outlet: “We know that the Cameroonian Football Federation is preparing a sanction against André Onana.
“They want to punish a player they’ve excluded from the national team. It’s a maneuver that will have no effect since, for the moment, André Onana’s mind isn’t on the national team.
“As long as the current management is in place, he doesn’t foresee a return.
“This sanction will therefore be a futile gesture.”
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