Leaving with a bang from the selection of Cameroon in the middle of the 2022 World Cup following a tactical dispute with coach Rigobert Song, André Onana announced his international retirement in stride.
Obviously, this is a big sporting loss for the selection of Cameroon insofar as the goalkeeper demonstrates match after match with Inter Milan that he belongs to the best. While the Nerazzurri have just qualified for the semi-finals of the Champions League, the Cameroonian Minister of Sports, Narcisse Mouelle Kombi, deemed it appropriate to send a letter to the Lombard club claiming the “provisionof the last rampart for the next deadlines of the Indomitable Lions.
“I have the honor to inform you that the State of Cameroon, represented in international football competitions by the national team ‘Les Lions Indomptables’, has taken note of the press release from Mr. André Onanaresident of your prestigious and emblematic club ‘Inter Milan’, press release whose terms could imply his withdrawal from this mythical national team“began the politician.
“A regrettable misunderstanding with the technical staff”
“However, on the strength of the observation that this declaration is the result of a regrettable misunderstanding with the technical staff after the first match during the competition mentioned above, and given the reaffirmation by the person concerned of his patriotic attachment to Cameroon and the Indomitable Lions, also revealed in the same release. We kindly ask you to allow this talented goalkeeper, who has so far been one of the strong links of this team, to satisfy his desire to continue to represent his country of origin and to make millions of compatriots dream. , making it available to the Indomitable Lions as soon as needed“, then claimed Mouelle Kombi.
Hmmm! #Cameroon‘s Sports Minister wrote to @Inter‘s President, stating that the country wants goalkeeper @AndreyOnana back in the @LIndomitables. what does coach @Song_Officiel_4 & @FecafootOfficie boss SamuelEtoo think of that? And Onana himself? pic.twitter.com/LqRH7Ycs87
— Osasu Obayiuwana (@osasuo) April 20, 2023
It is necessarily a rather confusing request insofar as it is not Inter who blocks Onana but the goalkeeper who decided to distance oneself from the selection. While Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) and close to the doorman, did not manage to bring him back to the den, it is difficult to believe that the ministry will achieve more despite the pressure exerted on his club…
