Andre Onana misses AFCON opener after blocked flight forced three-hour drive

15 January 2024 , 16:19

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Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana (Image: Sky Sports)

Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana has missed Cameroon's Africa Cup of Nations opener after his travel plans were thrown into disarray.

Onana played for United in their 2-2 draw against Tottenham on Sunday, before boarding a private plane to travel to the Ivory Coast where AFCON is being staged. Cameroon's campaign was due to get underway at 5pm on Monday when they face Guinea at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium in Yamoussoukro.

However, the Manchester Evening News reported that Onana's jet was left 'stranded around 150 miles away in Abidjan' as the airport in Yamoussoukro has been surrounded by fog, meaning planes were prevented from landing.

As a result, Sports Vibes said that Onana attempted to travel to the stadium by car, with the journey taking around three hours. However, he has not been named in the starting XI to face Guinea, with Nimes goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa playing instead.

United reached an agreement with the Cameroonian FA earlier this month which allowed Onana to remain in Manchester until January 14, meaning he was able to play in the 2-0 FA Cup third round win over Wigan last Monday and against Spurs on Sunday.

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Onana was keen to remain with his club for as long as possible amid concerns he could lose his place as the first-choice goalkeeper. Altay Bayindir is now set to deputise following his summer switch from Fenerbahce.

Onana has not enjoyed the best of starts to life at Old Trafford, having made several high-profile since completing his £47.2million move from Inter Milan. However, Erik ten Hag has repeatedly defended the 27-year-old and insisted last month that he is one of the best goalkeeper's in the Premier League.

Onana got on a private jet to fly to AFCON, but his plans were disrupted due to bad weather (Snapchat/andreonana.24)

"If you analyse it well, then you see he's the second-best goalkeeper in the Premier League, based on stats," Ten Hag said. "His expected number of preventing goals is the second-best in the Premier League.

"He's doing well, but he knows that in the Champions League he has made some mistakes, but all over, in the first five months, he has done well. You have seen how he reacted to a bad performance like in Munich.

"At Burnley he was outstanding. He is a strong character, he is a personality and he will deal with it."

Matthew Cooper