Onana’s omission comes in a turbulent period for the Lions, following the sacking of head coach Marc Brys just days before AFCON kicks off on December 21.
Yaoundé, Cameroon: Manchester United and Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana has been dropped from the Indomitable Lions’ squad for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), with Brentford forward Bryan Mbeumo among the key inclusions.
The 29-year-old, capped 53 times, played every minute of Cameroon’s recent World Cup qualifying campaign, which ended in disappointment after the team failed to secure a place at the 2026 tournament.
His omission comes in a turbulent period for the Lions, following the sacking of head coach Marc Brys just days before AFCON kicks off on December 21.
Cameroon is drawn in a tough AFCON 2025 group alongside Gabon, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique.
Onana, currently on loan at Trabzonspor from Manchester United, has made 11 appearances this season in Turkey, keeping three clean sheets in ten games. Trabzonspor officials are reportedly impressed and are considering making his stay permanent.
His recent club career has been unsettled. After falling down the pecking order at Manchester United, first behind Altay Bayindir, then Senne Lammens, Onana sought playing time through the loan move.
For Cameroon, he featured in three matches this year, losing two, including a crucial defeat to DR Congo that sealed the team’s failure to reach the next World Cup.
The Cameroon Football Federation confirmed via its official Instagram account that Onana will not travel for AFCON. Goalkeeping duties will instead fall to Simon Omossola, Devis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu and Edouard Sombang.
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