Andre Onana Set to Join Cameroon Squad for Africa Cup of Nations
Manchester United is eager to keep goalkeeper Andre Onana for as long as possible before he joins the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations later this month. However, there is a possibility that Onana could still be available for United’s FA Cup third-round clash with Wigan on Monday.
According to reports, Erik ten Hag, United’s manager, wants Onana to stay at Old Trafford for an additional week so that he can participate in the match against Tottenham next weekend. This is because the Red Devils will face Spurs on January 14, just one day before Cameroon’s opening AFCON match against Guinea.
If Onana plays in the Premier League match against Tottenham, he will have less than 24 hours to catch a seven-hour flight to Ivory Coast in time for Cameroon’s match on Monday. This tight schedule raises concerns about his availability for both club and country.
Cameroon’s final group game is scheduled against Gambia on January 23. If Cameroon gets eliminated by that time, Onana could potentially return to Manchester in time for the FA Cup fourth round, assuming United defeats Wigan. This would mean that he would not have missed any games.
However, if Cameroon makes it to the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, Onana could miss up to four games for Manchester United. This would be a significant absence considering that he has featured in every match for the club so far this season.
Meanwhile, Altay Bayindir, Ten Hag’s assistant and goalkeeper, is yet to make his first-team debut for Manchester United. Bayindir joined the Red Devils in a £4.3 million transfer on deadline day.
In conclusion, Manchester United is hoping to retain Andre Onana for as long as possible before he joins the Cameroon squad for the Africa Cup of Nations. The tight schedule between club and country matches raises concerns about his availability, but if Cameroon gets eliminated early, Onana could potentially return to Manchester in time for the FA Cup fourth round.