Leaked footage showed Cameroon manager Rigobert Song revealing details of Andre Onana’s exit from his World Cup squad.
Onana played in Cameroon’s opener against Switzerland but was left out of the squad entirely and sent home after a rift between goalkeeper and coach.
Song had a problem with Onana’s style of play as the coach felt the Inter Milan No.1 was taking too many risks with the ball at his feet, which led to his departure from the club. crew.
It is believed there was a shouting match between the two and Onana was adamant that he would carry on playing as he always did – something he learned in his upbringing with Barcelona and the club. ‘Ajax.
Now details have emerged about what happened during the encounter which led to Onana’s departure from the team.
It is believed that there have been tense discussions among members of the coaching staff over Onana’s presence in the squad.
And Song has now said Onana became tearful when he approached the keeper to discuss his performance, after initially refusing to speak to his boss.
“On the day of the game against Serbia, I told Onana that I had to talk to him and he started crying,” said the Cameroonian coach.
“I told him, ‘I don’t have time to discuss these issues. I called you yesterday and you didn’t speak to me. I spoke with Aboubakar, Choupo-Moting and Anguissa, who are the most representative players in the team; why shouldn’t I talk to you?
“Onana puts on a show in training but takes too many risks during matches. I told him repeatedly, ‘You shouldn’t take any chances. Pass the ball wide, not in the middle”.
“’He said to me: ‘I’m playing, I don’t have time to talk to you’.
“When he was at the hotel, he didn’t speak to me, but he went to see President Samuel [Eto’o] and he sent it I don’t know where.
It’s unclear whether Onana will return to the Cameroon squad after the World Cup period, and his future is uncertain.
It’s been a tough 12 months for the 26-year-old after he was banned for a year in 2021 for a doping violation.
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