OFFICIAL: Andre Onana resigns from the Cameroon national team
Cameroon and indomitable lions keeper Andre Onana officially resigns from the National Football team, in an official declaration published on his tweeter.
The Cameroonian was kicked out of the squad in the group stage of the World Cup by national coach Rigobert Song after a difference of opinion. And now the goalkeeper no longer wants to represent his country.
Onana released a statement via social media. The former Ajax player expressed his gratitude for his time in Cameroon’s shirt, but also explained that he has come to the decision to stop this journey. ‘Every story, no matter how beautiful that story is, has an end. And my story with the Cameroon national team has now come to an end.’
The Internazionale goalkeeper has had an excellent season at club level, but the debacle at the global final tournament is a reason to end his international career. Onana did indicate that he remains a fan of his compatriots. In the end, the keeper has represented Cameroon 35 times.
Before the group encounter with Serbia, Onana suddenly disappeared from Cameroon’s starting line-up. A quarrel with Song led to Onana’s exile, according to the official version of the Cameroon federation. The national coach would have been fed up with the former Ajax player’s ‘One Man Show’. Onana himself then immediately came up with a cryptic answer, which showed that the relationship was under high tension. “In a world where lying is normal, telling the truth is revolutionary.”
Andre Onana has announced his retirement from international football after being removed from Cameroon’s World Cup squad last month.
Onana, 26, was sent home from the tournament in Qatar following a blazing row with manager Rigobert Song, who reportedly took issue with his goalkeeping style.
According to Marca, Song lambasted the Inter Milan shot-stopper during training for taking too many risks with his feet, sparking a shouting match between the pair. Leaked footage later showed the head coach explaining what was said during the dispute.
The ex-Liverpool and West Ham man claimed his goalkeeper became tearful after approaching him to discuss his displays and that he avoided speaking to him.
Onana was subsequently dropped from Cameroon’s squad and forced to leave Qatar earlier than planned, before his country went on to suffer elimination in the group stage.
Now he has made the decision to step down from international duty altogether, confirming his Cameroon retirement in a lengthy post on social media.
He wrote: ‘It all started in Ngol Nkok, a small village where, from a very young age, my family passed on to me the values that identify the Cameroonian people. I understood that love for this country is eternal and that commitment is non-negotiable.
‘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.
‘My feeling will never change. My Cameroonian heart will continue to beat and wherever I go I will always fight to lift the flag of Cameron [sic] as high as possible.
‘I will continue to support as a fan, just as the more than 27 million Cameroonians do at every match. I can only thank all those who trusted me and believed that I could add and contribute to this team.’
Onana earned 34 caps during his six-year Cameroon career, helping them secure a third-place finish at last year’s Africa Cup of Nations.
