Andre Onana's career has plummeted to a fresh nadir after the goalkeeper was brutally omitted from Cameroon's squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
A Stunning National Team Snub
The 29-year-old, who has earned 53 caps for his country, has been left out entirely by selectors despite playing a full part in their recent World Cup qualifying campaign. This exclusion represents a significant personal and professional setback for the veteran shot-stopper, signalling that his recent improved club form in Turkey has failed to earn him a reprieve for the major continental tournament.
Onana's journey over the past two years has been a turbulent one. After a successful spell with Inter Milan, his high-profile move to Manchester United in the summer of 2023 turned sour. He struggled to adapt to the intense pressure at Old Trafford under managers Erik ten Hag and later Ruben Amorim.
The Manchester United Fallout and Turkish Revival
United manager Ruben Amorim acknowledged Onana's underlying quality, referencing his excellent season in Italy. However, he painted a picture of a player ultimately overwhelmed by the environment. "The pressure at a club like Manchester United is so hard on every detail," Amorim explained, indicating that things became progressively "harder and harder" for the Cameroonian.
The combination of performance struggles and what Amorim termed "bad luck" led to a mutual decision for a change last summer. Onana was subsequently loaned to Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor. There, he has shown signs of a revival, making 11 appearances across all competitions with performances convincing enough that the Turkish club's hierarchy is considering making the move permanent.
Looking Ahead: AFCON and Beyond
Despite this club resurgence, the call from his national team never came. The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is scheduled to begin on December 21st. Cameroon, who failed to qualify for next summer's World Cup, have been drawn in a group alongside Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique.
For Onana, this international axe marks another low in a rollercoaster period. His future now appears firmly in the hands of Trabzonspor, as the door to representing Cameroon on one of football's biggest continental stages has been firmly shut, for this tournament at least.
