Man Utd’s Onana included in Cameroon’s 2023 AFCON squad

Cameroon national team coach, Rigobert Song, has named Manchester United goalkeeper, Andre Onana, in his 27-man squad for the upcoming 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

This comes despite Onana having previously retired from international duty in 2022 after a disagreement with Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) President Samuel Eto’o. United manager Erik Ten Hag stated this month that the club was “in talks” to allow Onana to represent Cameroon in AFCON, acknowledging that “he has to go” if called up.

However, while selected for the team, it remains unclear whether the 27-year-old will actually participate. Sources suggest his hesitation stems from strained relations with Eto’o, although Onana did feature in a 2026 World Cup qualifier for his country in November. FIFA typically requires players to make themselves available for national team duty when selected.

Yet, Onana’s unique situation, having explicitly communicated his international retirement, poses questions about whether these rules account for such scenarios. United have emphasised supporting Onana regardless of his decision after engaging in discussions with Cameroon to understand all perspectives.

Should Onana play in AFCON, running from January 13 to February 11 2024, he would miss at least four English Premier League matches for United. His participation could also impact his availability for the FA Cup fourth round, pending progression. The shot-stopper has made 27 appearances across all competitions this campaign for the Red Devils, who travel to Nottingham Forest on Saturday.