World Cup: Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana surprised out of the group before facing Serbia

This is certainly not the most ideal way to prepare for a meeting that could decide the survival of Cameroon in this Mondial-2022. Less than two hours before the kick-off of the match between the Indomitable Lions and Serbia (11 a.m., Al Janoub Stadium), AFP tells us that Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana, regular starter and present during the match against Switzerland (1-0 defeat), will ultimately not be part of Rigobert Song’s group.

The Inter player was “dismissed” from the group, the agency said, citing a source at the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot). “Onana has been removed from the group, we complicate our lives a little”. A decision taken for “disciplinary” reasons, we add, without the reason or the duration of this sidelining being, for the moment, known. The goalkeeper will be replaced in Cameroon’s cages by Devis Epassy, ​​who plays in Abha, Saudi Arabia.

A tactical dispute between Onana and Song?

The Spanish media Cadena COPE and the Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano advance a tactical argument between Onana and his coach, Rigobert Song. “The goalkeeper argued with the Cameroonian coach over the discrepancies in the pattern of play, writes COPE‍. Eto’o tried to mediate but Onana says the situation is not reversible and decided to leave”. For Romano, the discussion between Onana and Song would have centered on the fact that the coach of the Lions “insisted on a different style of goalkeeper, more “traditional”. Onana has no intention of changing style. Tense situation, and therefore he was excluded. »

This is not the first time that Onana has made headlines. In February 2021, while playing at Ajax, he was suspended for twelve months by UEFA for violating anti-doping rules. In March this year, he was involved in a spectacular road accident in Douala, while on his way to a gathering of Lions at the time of qualifying for this World Cup.

Cameroon must absolutely win if they want to stay alive in Group G, which they share with Brazil, Switzerland and Serbia. Worse, a defeat on Monday morning could make the Indomitable Lions go down in history: Cameroon would then join Mexico in the greatest number of consecutive games lost in the World Cup, with a ninth defeat in a row.