Onana affair: Eto'o faces the verdict of history

The Cameroon government is pushing for the return of André Onana to the national team. The 27-year-old goalkeeper (34 caps) announced on 23 December 2022 that he would no longer play for his country, after being suspended by Fécafoot for "indiscipline" during the World Cup in Qatar.

However, the Inter Milan goalkeeper's fine performances, notably in the Champions League, where he is the best in his position with 6 clean sheets and 40 saves, have not left the officials in his country indifferent. On 19 April 2023, Cameroon's sports minister wrote to the president of the Nerazzurri. Narcisse Mouelle Kombi is requesting that André Onana be released with a view to a possible call-up by the Indomitable Lions.

Political manoeuvring

This would not be the first time Cameroonian politicians have stepped in to bring a player out of international retirement. In 2013, Samuel Eto'o had already received the same attention, a month after announcing his withdrawal from the Indomitable Lions for "personal reasons". Then aged 32, the Chelsea striker explained in early October 2013 that he was returning to the squad at the request of Cameroon president Paul Biya.

"The most important person in the country wants me to come back to the national team so that we can qualify for the next World Cup [2014]," Eto'o told Reuters. "So I will do everything I can to rejoin my team-mates". At the time, Fécafoot, with whom he was in permanent conflict, had no say in the matter. Eto'o, who believed that footballers "as Cameroonian citizens" have "a certain duty towards the nation", rejoined the squad for the 2014 World Cup play-offs against Tunisia [0-0 on 11 October in Radès and 4-1 on 15 November in Yaoundé].

Almost ten years on, history could repeat itself with André Onana, except that Fécafoot, with whom he is on frosty terms, is now run by one… Samuel Eto'o. Could that mean complications over his return? "Let's hope there has been some consultation between Fécafoot's executive and the minister. Otherwise, knowing the huge ego of the Federation's leaders, we should expect a thoroughly poisonous atmosphere if Onana returns, imposed by the ministry", says Jean Bruno Tagne, a journalist and former campaign manager for Samuel Eto'o.

A clash between State and Fécafoot looming?

The signs of a possible clash between the sports minister and Fécafoot are, in any case, already visible. Samuel Eto'o's supporters consider the supervisory ministry's moves in the Onana case inappropriate. "The minister is breaking every rule of propriety. He is usurping the role of the Fécafoot president or, failing that, the Lions' manager-coach", notes Francis Bonga, a journalist reputed to be close to Samuel Eto'o. Conversely, some analysts believe the sports ministry is within its rights, given that four months after the World Cup, Fécafoot has made no attempt at mediation with André Onana.

"When you see the amateurism with which Fécafoot has handled the Onana case, you can understand why the government, through its sports minister, has decided to take the initiative to bring the prodigy back home", argues Jean Bruno Tagne. "Fécafoot's officials, he continues, through their notorious incompetence in this matter, are responsible for what, in a normal environment, would have been seen as interference". All eyes in Cameroon are on Eto'o.

Arthur Wandji