Cameroonian and Inter Milan goalkeeper, Andrew OnanHe has announced his retirement from the Indomitable Lions.
The development comes weeks after he was “temporarily suspended” from the national team following a rift with coach Rigobert Song during the just-concluded 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Onana was left out of the Cameroon National Team following an unresolved rift with Song over tactical issues.
How it started
The feud between Onana and Song began after Cameroon lost their World Cup campaign to Switzerland by just one goal. Although the Lions showed class and prevented the Swiss, Cameroon-born Embolo still scored against Onana.
According to the BBC, Song was unhappy with Onana’s style of play and ventured outside the penalty area. The goalkeeper had 61 touches from the penalty area, which was more than any goalkeeper against the Swiss.
Onana’s party words
However, the former Ajax player made an emotional statement in the early hours of Friday, December 23, bidding farewell to the National Team as the country came first.
In his statement, the 26-year-old said he has fulfilled his dream of representing the Lions and will not stop following him as a fan.
“Every story, no matter how beautiful, always has an end. And my story with the Cameroon national team has reached this point. Players come and go, but Cameroon is always ahead of any person or player,” Onana said in a statement.
“Cameroon will always follow the national team shirt and our love that has always supported us despite the difficulties.
READ ALSO: Ajax has appealed the 12-month doping ban for Onana
“My feelings have not changed. My Cameroonian heart will continue to beat and will go everywhere fighting to raise the Cameroonian flag as high as possible.
“I will continue to support Cameroon as a fan, as 27 million Cameroonians do in every game. I can only thank everyone who trusted me and believed that I could do it, he concluded.
Onana as Ziyech
Onana is not the first player to announce his retirement from the national team in February 2022 after a disagreement with his coach, Hakim Ziyech, following a dispute with former coach Vahid Halidozhic who announced his retirement from the Moroccan national team.
Ziyech reportedly refused to play saying he was injured, which contradicted the National Team’s medical report. This led to a rift between Ziyech and the sacked coach.
However, the Chelsea star was called into the team by Walid Regragui, who took over the role after Walid was sacked.
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