Why is Andre Onana set to miss Cameroon's first AFCON game?

The Cameroon goalkeeper is expected to miss the national team’s first game in the Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea.

Cameroon will likely be without Andre Onana for their AFCON opener because of the goalkeeper’s commitment to Manchester United.

Onana didn’t join the Cameroon team in a warm-up camp in Saudi Arabia. Instead, he played in a third-round FA Cup game against Wigan on Monday, which Manchester United won by a score of 2-0.

According to ESPN, Onana may delay his departure to the Ivory Coast for AFCON even further. He is expected to play in United’s Premier League game against Tottenham on Sunday.

If Onana does play, he will have less than 24 hours to fly to Yamoussoukro for Cameroon’s first AFCON match against Guinea.

The Cameroon Federation has allegedly accepted he will not be available.

That said, Cameroon have three other goalkeeping options – Devis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, and Fabrice Ondoa – for AFCON.

The Lions are in Group C for the tournament and will face Senegal and Gambia after Monday’s AFCON opener.