What Would Happen if Onana Returned to Man United Today? What the Law Says

• Andre Onana hit a new low after being left out of Cameroon’s AFCON squad
• The goalkeeper is still with his nation after they advanced to the Round of 16
• FIFA laws have dictated what would happen if Onana was to rejoin Man United

Andre Onana’s position as Cameroon’s number 1 at the Africa Cup of Nations is not guaranteed anymore.

The 27-year-old was dropped for the crunch clash against The Gambia on January 23 as the Indomitable Lions secured a 3-2 victory to advance to the AFCON Round of 16.

In his first and only game of the continental competition, Onana conceded thrice as Cameroon succumbed to a 3-1 defeat against defending champions Senegal in a performance that summed up his season for both club and country.

Since signing for Manchester United from Inter Milan, the 2023 Champions League finalist has endured a difficult spell characterised by high-profile mistakes and unrelenting criticism on social media.

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The latest wave of criticism stemmed from Cameroon fans, who questioned his commitment to his nation after extending his stay with United and arriving for international duty at the last minute, quite literally.

According to Pulse Sports, Onana was incensed by his national team coach Rigobert Song's decision to leave him out of the game against The Gambia, leading to a row with friend-turned-foe, Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon FA.

Can Onana return to Man United?

While Onana has made it clear he is unwilling to lose his place at Man United, Cameroon’s qualification for the Round of 16 at AFCON 2023 could work against him in the grand scheme of things.

In the extreme situation, if the goalie decides he is packing up and returning to England while Cameroon are still battling for the title, he may still not be eligible to wear the Red Devils jersey.

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According to FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players, per TheFA.com:

"Clubs are obliged to release their registered players to the representative teams of the country for which the player is eligible to play on the basis of his nationality if they are called up by the association concerned. An agreement to the contrary between the player and [their] club is prohibited."

The football governing body's laws also stipulate that:

"For a final competition... players must be released and start their travel to their representative team no later than Monday morning the week preceding the week when the relevant final competition starts and must be released by the association in the morning of the day after the last match of their team in the tournament."

This would mean that Onana will not be eligible to play for Man United - even if he leaves his nation's camp - as long as Cameroon is still in the Africa Cup of Nations.

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Another player in the same predicament is Mohamed Salah, who is poised to return to England for advanced treatment of a hamstring injury while Egypt are through to the AFCON last 16.

He will not be available for the Pharaohs and will be unable to play for his club in the unlikely event he makes a full recovery while Egypt is still competing in the continental tournament.

Cameroon faces Nigeria in the last 16 on Saturday, January 27. Egypt, meanwhile, face DR Congo on Sunday.

Teams that have advanced to AFCON knockouts

Sports Brief also previously reported on all the AFCON Round of 16 teams, with heavyweights like Tunisia and Ghana missing out.

Hosts, Ivory Coast barely scraped by as they were helped by the Black Stars Ghana’s late collapse against Mozambique.