AFCON 2023: Andre Onana Makes Feelings Clear with Subtle Post After Getting Benched vs Gambia

• Andre Onana was dropped for Cameroon’s crucial Group decider
• The Indomitable Lions beat Gambia 3-2 to proceed to the AFCON last 16
• Onana took to social media with a classy post despite his woes

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana exhibited some class with a social media post moments after his nation qualified for the last 16 of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

The 27-year-old hit a new low on Tuesday, January 23 as he was benched for Cameroon’s Group C decider against Gambia as his cousin Fabrice Ondoa was given the nod in goal by Rigobert Song.

Onana controversially missed Cameroon’s first group game of the tournament (a 1-1 draw against Guinea) after deciding to play Manchester United’s Premier League game against Tottenham before taking a jet to Ivory Coast.

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When he was finally given the chance to impress, the £47million signing had a nightmare game against Senegal, conceding three goals as his side succumbed to a 3-1 defeat.

It thus came as no surprise when he was dropped for Cameroon’s final group game, which the Indomitable Lions needed to win to ensure they progressed to the last 16 of the tournament, per The Athletic.

How the game went

To say Cameroon’s clash against The Gambia was a thriller would be an understatement.

Both teams led at some point in the game, but it was Song’s side that emerged victorious in a match that had almost everything.

Cameroon took the lead through Toko-Ekambi in the 56th minute, but Gambia turned the game around through goals from Abile Jallow and Ebrima Colley.

But there was more drama to come as Cameroon found an equalizer through a James Gomez own goal, before Christopher Wooh scored what proved to be the winner in added time.

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Onana’s message

On social media, fans kept tabs on Onana’s pages to see whether the goalie would respond to being benched.

But the former Ajax man put his personal grievances aside as he shared an image of his teammates celebrating the winner on his Instagram stories.

While he did not caption the image, Onana was keen to show his 1.9 million followers what he thought of the team.

What next for Cameroon?

Cameroon’s victory over The Gambia coupled with Guinea’s 2-0 defeat over Group winners Senegal allowed the Indomitable Lions to finish second in Group C. They will now face Nigeria in the round of 16 on Saturday, January 27.

Manchester United face Newport County in the FA Cup fourth round on Sunday, barely 24 hours after Cameroon’s game against the Super Eagles. It is highly unlikely Onana will be involved in the clash for his club, even if his nation gets knocked out in the last 16.

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Ghana and Algeria out of AFCON

Elsewhere, Sports Brief also reported on the nations that are out of the Africa Cup of Nations.

With the group games wrapping up, there have been a number of upsets in the tournament as heavyweights like Algeria and Ghana bow out.

The Desert Foxes suffered a 1-0 defeat to Mauritania on Tuesday, January 23 to seal their fate.