Andre Onana sent home after feud with Cameroon coach Rigobert Song
3 min read
Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana was sent home from the World Cup overnight for disciplinary reasons after a dispute with coach Rigobert Song.
The Inter Milan goalkeeper was « temporarily suspended » from the team, the Cameroon football federation said in a statement, and the suspension would cover the rest of the tournament in Qatar. The federation said it had booked Onana a flight back to Milan.
Onana also released a statement referring to his disagreement with Song over team tactics that led to him being dropped for Cameroon’s 3-3 draw with Serbia on Tuesday morning AEDT.
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Onana said he had tried to resolve the issues in a bid to stay at the World Cup.
« I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side, » Onana said. « Some moments are difficult to assimilate. »
Onana said he respected the decisions « of the people in charge. »
Onana had played in Cameroon’s opening game at the World Cup, a 1-0 loss to Switzerland, but was dropped for the Serbia game and didn’t travel with the rest of the squad to Al Janoub Stadium. Cameroon fought back from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 without its No.1 goalkeeper.
Song said it was a risk to play with reserve goalkeeper Devis Epassy but insisted he had to take « strong action » against the 26-year-old Onana, one of Cameroon’s best players, who is valued at over $21 million.
« If you can’t fit in with what’s required to be part of a squad then I do think that you need to step up to the plate and accept responsibility for that because the team, the squad, is more important than the interests of any individual, » Song said after the Serbia game without going into details of his disagreement with Onana.
Song said he needed all his players to « show discipline and respect. »
In his statement, Onana said he was disappointed that he was « not allowed » to be with the team at the Serbia game and denied that he had broken any squad disciplinary rules.
« I always behaved in a way to lead the team to success in a good manner, » Onana said.
Cameroon still has a chance of qualifying for the last 16 at the World Cup but needs to beat top-ranked Brazil in its final Group G game and hope that the result of the Switzerland-Serbia match goes in its favour.
Song is a former captain of Cameroon who was appointed coach in February in a surprise to some after Toni Conceicao guided the team to third place at this year’s African Cup of Nations and only missed reaching the final in a penalty shootout loss to Egypt.
The president of the Cameroon football federation is Samuel Eto’o, a former teammate of Song on the national team.
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