April, 20 2023.
_Back to Indomitable Lions Squad_
There are concerted behind the scene efforts by the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education in Cameroun, geared towards resolving the face-off between goalkeeper André Onana and Head Coach of the Indomitable Lions Rigobert Song, at the FIFA World Cup held in Qatar, November 2022.
Onana was suspended from the Indomitable Lions squad, due to what the country's football federation (fecafoot) called a disciplinary issue.
The said suspension came to many as a surprise, considering the fact that Onana was in goal for the entire duration of Cameroun's opening game against Switzerland, which they lost 0-1 and were looking forward to right the wrongs against Serbia, before the announcement was made.
Several outlets reported that the Inter Milan shot stopper was banished, and he had asked to be allowed to return to Cameroun.
It later emerged that Onana had an altercation with Rigobert Song on tactics, and the goalkeeper was subsequently austracized to ensure that the unity of bulk of the squad is preserved.
It's now about four months since the Mundial in Qatar ended, and the Camerounian Minister of Sports, Professor Narcisse Mouelle Kombi in a letter dated April 9th, and addressed to the President of Inter Milan, Steven Zhang hinted at efforts being made to have the keeper, back into the fold of the five-time Africa Cup of Nations champions.
Neither Coach Rigobert Song, André Onana himself, nor Fecafoot President Samuel Eto'o Fils, who is presently mourning the passing of his dad, has commented on this, but the recent dismal outings of the Indomitable Lions against the Brave Warriors of Namibia have been deemed unacceptable, and most pundits have blamed poor goalkeeping for the recent loses, in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.
Onana who joined Inter Milan from Ajax Amsterdam, was in goal on Wednesday night for the Serie A giants, who qualified for the UEFA Champions League semifinals on 5-3 aggregate, despite being held 3-3 by Benfica last night.
Up next for André Onana and Inter Milan in the Champions League, is a derby against AC Milan who edged out Victor Osimhen's SSC Napoli 2-1 in the quarterfinals.
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