Cameroon Coach Rigobert Song Explains Andre Onana AFCON Delay Ahead of Gambia Clash

• Rigobert Song will decide on Andre Onana ahead of their opener
• Cameroon will face Guinea in AFCON Group C on Monday afternoon
• Onana left England in the early hours of Monday for the Nations Cup

Cameroon coach, Rogobert Song, has confirmed that he permitted the Manchester United goalkeeper to extend his stay in England amid the start of the Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.

Onana stayed behind to feature for the Red Devils in their Premier League game against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday.

The Cameroon number one has boarded a chartered flight in hopes of arriving on time for the Group C opener against Guinea on Monday.

However, it is unclear if the former Cameroon captain will start the Manchester United goalkeeper against the Syli National.

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"We all know Onana remains one of the best goalkeepers. If we gave him permission to stay at the club, it is because we all know the qualities he has," said Song during the pre-match presser for the game against Guinea, as quoted by Allez Les Lions.

"At the group level, everything is going on well, and what interests us now is tomorrow's match and making do with what we have," he added.

Onana is expected to arrive on Monday for Cameroon's opener.

The five-time champions hope to start the tournament on a good note, with Senegal and Gambia in the same group as the Indomitable Lions, per NBC Sports.

Onana leaves for AFCON 2023

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana had chartered a flight for his trip to Ivory Coast for the Africa Cup of Nations.

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The Manchester United goalkeeper is part of Cameroon's 27-man squad set to face Guinea in their first Group C game on January 15.

According to BBC, the shot-stopper returned to the national team back in September, months after he was suspended for 'disciplinary reasons' during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Onana makes AFCON U-turn

Sports Brief also reported that Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana was uncertain about joining his Cameroon teammates for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

Even though he was included in Cameroon's 27-man squad for the tournament, Onana had not made a decision due to his ongoing club duties.

According to BBC, the shot-stopper returned to the national team back in September, months after he was suspended for 'disciplinary reasons' during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.