The official announcement of Cameroon’s line-up against Serbia uncovered a mystery that had been kept under wraps.
It was surprising not just to see Andre Onana excluded from the starting XI, but from the bench too.
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The Inter goalkeeper had started the 1-0 defeat against Switzerland, when he could do little to prevent Embolo‘s goal from close range but he did save a very similar shot from Ruben Vargas with his shoulder.
Why has Andre Onana been dropped by Cameroon?
Although various outlets have claimed that it’s a disciplinary issue, MARCA has learned that this isn’t the reason.
Onana is leaving the World Cup – he will not play again – for a sporting reason, because of the “model of the game”.
That’s what we have been told by those close to him, as the former Barcelona and Ajax player does not fit in Rigobert Song‘s schemes.
The coach believes that Onana takes too many risks with his footwork, and in his restarts from the goal.
He has decided he’d prefer a goalkeeper who plays more direct and who is more under the sticks. That is why he opted for Devis Epassy against Serbia.
An argument between Song and Onana
Song reportedly started shouting at Onana in training on Saturday. After training, they sat down, talked and the goalkeeper insisted that he was not going to change the way he played.
Song decided that, in that case, it would be best for him to leave the camp. He understood that having Onana as a second-choice goalkeeper was not a good option either.
Samuel Eto’o, president of the Federation, is Onana‘s “sporting father”, as the goalkeeper came out of his Foundation, but Eto’o preferred to adopt a more neutral role and support Song‘s position. Onana, therefore, leaves the World Cup.
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