The 26-year-old Indomitable Lions of Cameroon and Inter Milan goalkeeper André Onana has formalized this Friday December 23, 2022, his decision to leave the Cameroonian team.
An international retirement which comes after his dismissal from the selection by Rigobert Song during the 2022 World Cup, for disciplinary reasons.
The 26-year-old doorman, holder with Inter Milan, shared a press release on his social networks this Friday morning acknowledging his international retirement.
“…I remember how we watch the matches as a family. Only Cameroonians can understand what it means to us to see the Indomitable Lions play. That’s when I started dreaming of one day wearing the national team jersey. And now, after endless hours of training, endless trips and a lot of perseverance, I can proudly say that I have fulfilled my great dream.
But every story, however beautiful it may be, has its end. And my story with the Cameroonian national team has come to an end. Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any person or player. Cameroon remains eternal and so does my love for the national team and for our people who have always supported us no matter how difficult the moment was.”
André Onana was selected 34 times with the Lions before being sidelined after the Cameroonians’ first match at the 2022 World Cup for indiscipline.
“In a group you have to respect the rules, I prefer to preserve the group than the individualities,” coach Rigobert Song reacted at a press conference.
André Onana did not, in his press release, mention any dispute with his now ex-coach. However, the precocity of his decision, in view of his age and his status in Europe, suggests that external reasons pushed him to record his international retirement.
Source: AfrikPage