Cameroon coach Rigobert Song has opened up on the reason he left Andre Onana out of the squad for his side's 1-1 draw Guinea.
Reports claim that the Manchester United goalkeeper had to be calmed down by former Senegal star El Hadji Diouf after finding out that he was not going to be a part of the squad that took on the National Elephants.
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The pair last fell out during the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, resulting in the shot-stopper heading home during the tournament and subsequently retiring from international football.
He then, however, agreed to being brought back into the fold to help Cameroon qualify for AFCON and was then selected as part of the squad to compete in the tournament.
Prior to the beginning of the tournament, he had arranged with the national team's management to delay his departure for the competition in order to be in United's goal for their match against Tottenham Hotspur, which was just around 24 hours before the Indomitable Lions took on Guinea.
However, after reportedly travelling to Ivory Coast on a private jet, Onana was said to be upset at not being selected. Song, however, clarified the situation, explaining why the 27-year-old had been left out.
"No, Andre [Onana], we all knew that [he wouldn't play]," Song said in a post match conference per beIN Sports.
"We need to stick to our logic. He arrived at 4 am, how do you expect him to play at 5 pm? He is part of the group.
"So he is part of the squad. There is the rest of the competition and I'm sticking with my full squad."
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Cameroon's next group stage match will come against defending champions Senegal and whether or not Onana will be called upon remains to be seen.
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