Cameroon head coach Rigobert Song has defended his decision to omit goalkeeper Andre Onana from the squad for their African Cup of Nations opener against Guinea on Monday, as the Indomitable Lions struggled for 1-1 draw with the Syli National.
Onana rushed to join the team on Monday morning after playing for Manchester United against Tottenham on Sunday in the Premier League.
However, the 26-year-old did not arrive in Yamoussoukro until 4am local time after facing travel delays.
“It’s logical. He arrived at 4 o’clock in the morning. How do you want him to play?” Song said during the post-match at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro
Onana was sent home from Cameroon’s World Cup squad in November after a dispute with Song. But he earned a recall for AFCON after apparently regaining the coach’s favor.
Song reiterated that Onana remains part of the group despite being left out of the 1-1 draw with Guinea.
“He’s part of the group,” the coach stated.
Cameroon struggled without their first-choice keeper, conceding a 50th minute equalizer to Guinea after captain Vincent Aboubakar had put them ahead in the 7th minute.
Onana will be hoping to take his place between the sticks when Cameroon face Ethiopia on January 14 in their second Group A outing.
