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The president of the Cameroon Football Federation (Fécafoot), Samuel Eto'o, believes that the matter of André Onana's exclusion from the 2022 World Cup "should have been kept a secret".
This is the first time since the end of the World Cup (November-December 2022) in Qatar that Samuel Eto'o has spoken publicly about the exclusion of Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana. The former Indomitable Lions captain addressed the controversy currently surrounding the Inter Milan goalkeeper at the Fécafoot General Assembly on Saturday 27 May 2023. Eto'o is of the opinion that this affair should have remained confidential within the team and expressed his disappointment at its excessive media coverage.
"It's not unusual for a player to adopt an attitude or say things that go beyond his thoughts. It can and does happen," says Eto'o. It can also happen that the young player is punished by the boss of the team, who is the manager. That's how things work in the dressing room. The President of Fécafoot believes that the matter "should have remained a secret within the group". But, he accuses, "some people saw an opportunity and turned it into an affair; they created the André Onana affair".
Onana's return depends on Song
Samuel Eto'o stresses the importance of rules and discipline within a sporting group. In his opinion, a team without rules and discipline is doomed to failure. He also insists on the responsibility of the coaching staff, saying that a coach without authority is not a true leader. Furthermore, the former Barcelona player believes that a national team can only function effectively if it has clear leadership, with no confusion over the decisions to be taken. That is why he had no choice but to support coach Rigobert Song in this crisis.
A provisional sanction was imposed on the player," he says. The President of the Federation followed the staff's decision. The case was submitted to the Ethics and Discipline Commission, as stipulated in our statutes". Finally, Eto'o concludes, "André Onana's return to the national team depends exclusively on the manager and coach. He and he alone decides on the selection of players". André Onana retired from international football after the 2022 World Cup. Since then, the Cameroon government has been in contact with his club, Inter Milan, with a view to a possible return to the national team.
