Cameroon’s head coach, Rigobert Song, has clarified that there is no bad blood between him and Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana.
The goalkeeper’s late arrival in camp for Cameroon’s 2023 AFCON opener against Guinea had led to speculation of a strained relationship between the coach and the player.
Onana’s delayed arrival was due to his desire to feature in Manchester United’s match against Tottenham Hotspur.
As a result, coach Song had no choice but to bench the goalkeeper for the Guinea game, which ended in a 1-1 draw for Cameroon. In the subsequent group stage match against Senegal, Song decided to start Onana.
However, despite his efforts, Cameroon succumbed to a 3-1 defeat. This led to further speculation that the coach was unhappy with Onana’s performance.
In their last group stage game against Gambia, Song opted to start Fabrice Ondoa instead of Onana. This decision fueled rumors that Onana could be benched for the upcoming match against Nigeria in the round of 16.
However, Song has dismissed these speculations, stating, “I have no problem with my goalkeepers. They are all competitive and ready to respond when they need to play. There is no controversy. They get along very well.”
The coach’s statement emphasizes that there is no animosity between him and Onana. It highlights the healthy competition among the goalkeepers and their willingness to support each other for the success of the team.
As Cameroon prepares for their crucial match against Nigeria, it is clear that the coach values the abilities of both Onana and Ondoa.
The decision on who will start in goal will be based on tactical considerations rather than any personal issues between the coach and the players.
Article updated 2 months ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
