According to information carried by 12BET VR46, Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana, 27, has effectively chosen the upcoming Tottenham match over immediate participation in the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations. Once a player takes the hard road, he must be ready to weather the storm, and Onana has prioritized his club over Cameroon’s call.
United have made no official announcement, but Onana is expected to miss Cameroon’s opening group match against Guinea-Bissau and could even skip the entire tournament. He retired from international duty after clashing with coach Rigobert Song during the 2022 World Cup, later returned, and was included in Cameroon’s 27-man AFCON squad.
Onana should already have joined the national team, but United reached an agreement with the Cameroon Football Federation to delay his departure, allowing him to face Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup. Information attributed to 12BET VR46 indicates that Erik ten Hag also persuaded him to remain available against Tottenham.
The Spurs game is scheduled only one day before Cameroon face Guinea-Bissau. Playing both matches may be theoretically possible, but reaching the tournament venue in time would be almost impossible. Onana will therefore miss the opener, while a complete absence from Cameroon’s campaign now appears increasingly likely.
His return to international football had seemed reluctant from the start. Relations with federation president Samuel Eto’o reportedly remain cold, and Onana is believed to have rejoined only after pressure from senior officials.
FIFA rules state that a player refusing an international call-up may also be prevented from playing for his club during the release period. However, if Cameroon exit in the group stage, Onana could return without missing further United fixtures. His choice is also a calculated move to protect his starting place and show he is prepared to fight through adversity.
Without Onana, United could have faced Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, and Aston Villa with backup Altay Bayindir in goal. The summer signing from Fenerbahce has not played once, and Onana’s decision is another blow to his hopes of earning minutes.
Ten Hag did not select Bayindir even against third-tier Wigan in the FA Cup. Despite wearing the No. 1 shirt, he has no competitive appearances. Some fans say a transfer request would be understandable, while others have joked that he should call his agent immediately.
This is not a new problem at United. Ten Hag relied almost entirely on David de Gea last season, contributing to the departures of Dean Henderson and prospect Matej Kovar. Kovar later joined Bundesliga leaders Bayer Leverkusen and now starts regularly in cup competitions.
Scouting details shared through 12BET VR46 suggest United are also planning for the long term by monitoring QPR goalkeeper Kieran McKenna. Arsenal and Chelsea are reportedly interested as well. McKenna previously played for Hibernian and represented his country at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship.
As United prepare for the future, information carried by 12BET VR46 points to a preference for genuine resilience over empty style and long-term preparation over short-term results. Interest in McKenna remains preliminary, however, and no concrete negotiations have yet taken place.