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Manchester United's Andre Onana to Play Two Games in Two Days Despite Africa Cup of Nations Duty

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Andre Onana, Manchester United's 27-year-old Cameroonian goalkeeper, will play two games in two days due to an extraordinary agreement between the club and the Cameroonian Football Federation. Onana will participate in a match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 14, followed by a seven-hour flight to Ivory Coast to join his Cameroon team-mates before their opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea on January 15.

Key Takeaways:

  • Andre Onana will play two games in two days, starting with Manchester United's match against Tottenham Hotspur on January 14 and followed by his Cameroon team's opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea on January 15.
  • The Cameroonian Football Federation agreed to delay Onana's departure for the Africa Cup of Nations at Manchester United's request, allowing him to play both games.
  • Onana will miss only three Manchester United matches, against Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham, and Aston Villa, if Cameroon reaches the final of the Africa Cup of Nations, which takes place on February 11.
  • This agreement was made possible after talks between Manchester United and the Cameroonian Football Federation, with the goal of minimizing the impact of Onana's international duty on the club.
  • Onana was persuaded to come out of retirement by the Cameroonian federation last autumn, a year after he was kicked out of their World Cup squad due to an argument with head coach Rigobert Song.
  • The rest of the Cameroon squad are in Saudi Arabia for a weeklong training camp, while Onana will meet his team-mates in Ivory Coast after playing against Tottenham.

Statistics:

  • 7 hours: The flight time from Manchester to Ivory Coast, where Onana will meet his Cameroon team-mates.
  • 5pm GST: The kickoff time for Cameroon's opening game at the Africa Cup of Nations against Guinea on January 15.
  • 27: The age of Andre Onana.
  • PS47 million: The transfer fee United paid for Onana from Inter Milan.
  • 2 months: The timeframe for the Premier League to ratify Ineos's proposal to buy 25% of Manchester United.

Sources:

  • The Guardian
  • Manchester Evening News
  • BBC Sport

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