Cameroon will head into AFCON 2025 without one of their most experienced and high-profile players, as André Onana has been dropped from the Indomitable Lions’ squad.
The Champions League-winning goalkeeper, who moved from Inter Milan to Manchester United in 2023, struggled to find consistency at Old Trafford. Seeking to revive his career, Onana joined Trabzonspor in the summer of 2025 and has shown signs of resurgence, keeping three clean sheets in ten league games.
Despite the club-level challenges, Onana had remained a mainstay for the Cameroonian national team, even starting in the crucial 2026 World Cup playoff against DR Congo, a match Cameroon lost 1–0, with Onana partly blamed for the goal.
However, his exclusion comes amid turmoil in the Cameroonian camp.
Head coach Marc Brys has just been sacked, just days before the tournament kicks off, raising questions about squad selections and team preparation.
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Onana’s omission is a significant blow for the Indomitable Lions, both on and off the pitch, given his leadership and experience in major competitions.
AFCON 2025 is expected to test Cameroon’s squad depth, and losing a goalkeeper of Onana’s caliber could force the team to rely on less experienced options in a tournament where margins are tight.
FKA/AE
