AL RAYYAN, Qatar (AP) — Cameroonian goalkeeper Andre Onana has apparently withdrawn from the World Cup. on Tuesday and was heading home after being dropped from the national team for disciplinary reasons.
A photo posted by a Cameroonian journalist on social media It showed the Inter Milan goalkeeper at the Doha airport and about to leave Qatar. A spokesman for the Cameroon team did not immediately return calls seeking comment.
Onana also launched a statement on Tuesday referring to his dispute with Cameroon coach Rigobert Song over the team’s tactics that led to him being ruled out of Cameroon’s 3-3 draw with Serbia on Monday and suspended from the team.
Onana said that he had tried to solve the problems.
“I have put all my effort and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will from the other side,” said Onana. “Some moments are hard to take.”
Onana said he respected the decisions “of those responsible.”
Onana had played in Cameroon’s opening match at the World Cup, a 1–0 loss to Switzerland, but was dropped for the Serbia match. and did not travel with the rest of the squad to Al Janoub Stadium. Cameroon rallied from 3-1 down to draw 3-3 without their number one goalkeeper.
Song said playing substitute goalkeeper Devis Epassy was a risk, but insisted he had to “crack down” against the 26-year-old Onana.
“If you can’t fit what it takes to be part of a team, then I think you have to step up and accept responsibility because the team, the team, is more important than the interests of any individual,” Song said. on Monday after the Serbia game without elaborating on his disagreement with Onana.
Song said he needed all his players to “show discipline and respect.”
In his statement, Onana said he was disappointed that he was “not allowed” to be with the team at the Serbia game and denied violating the team’s disciplinary rules.
“I always behaved in a way that leads the team to success in a good way,” Onana said.
Cameroon still has a chance of qualifying for the round of 16 at the World Cup, but they need to beat world-ranked Brazil in their last Group G match and hope the outcome of the Switzerland-Serbia match goes in their favour.
Song is a former Cameroon captain who was named coach in February, surprising some after Toni Conceicao guided the team to third place at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations and only missed the final in a penalty shootout loss to Egypt. .
The president of Cameroon’s soccer federation is Samuel Eto’o, Song’s former teammate on the national team.
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