Cameroonian goalkeeper André Onana has once again spoken out about the situation within the Indomitable Lions national team. During a live broadcast on TikTok, he denounced a climate that he considers marked by restraint, unspoken truths, and a lack of transparency.
"Very few have the courage to criticize publicly," Onana stated, pointing to a discrepancy between the speeches made in private and the public declarations. According to him, some former players make different remarks depending on whether they express themselves in public or in private, which reveals a lack of authenticity.
The Trabzonspor goalkeeper, currently on loan from Manchester United, also addressed the issue of the players' living conditions, including the lack of bonuses paid by certain sponsors for several years. "Do you know that we spent four years without bonuses from top sponsors? Does saying that mean I hate someone?" he asked, emphasizing that it is not a personal attack, but an observation.
Aware of the potential repercussions of his statements, André Onana fully assumes his position. "There is a price to pay, and they will hit you," he said, alluding to mechanisms of pressure, manipulation, and disinformation that could be implemented to silence him.
This statement comes in a context where Onana was absent from the last Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). He had already mentioned a disagreement with a leader of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), suggesting that his non-selection could be related to this dispute. Despite this, he affirms that he remains available to the national team if the coach considers that he has the required level.
André Onana's statements highlight the persistent tensions within the Cameroonian national team and raise questions about the management of bonuses and transparency within the team. His words could revive the debate on the structural problems that plague Cameroonian football.
In the meantime, André Onana continues his career in Turkey, where he is on loan at Trabzonspor.
