After Manchester United’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham, ANDRE ONANA got on a private jet to Afcon. He didn’t make it to the stadium in time, though, because of an unexpected delay.
The goalkeeper for the Red Devils had less than 24 hours to get to Cameroon’s first game against Guinea.
Onana, who is 27 years old, put off going out to meet up with his Africa Cup of Nations team so he could help United win a very important game against Spurs.
The Red Devils fought hard against Ange Postecoglou’s team to get a draw, and he was very helpful in goal.
Erik ten Hag was eager to put on a show at the game, which was the first one Sir Jim Ratcliffe had been to since buying a 25% share.
Everyone else left Old Trafford around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday, but Onana went right to the airport because Cameroon’s first African Cup of Nations game was at 5 p.m. on Monday.
News from Manchester Evening News says that he had to wait because bad weather stopped his private jet.
His private jet is said to have been held up in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Monday morning because of bad weather in Yamoussoukro, where Cameroon plays Guinea.
Onana was stuck in Abidjan, 150 miles away, while Cameroon played Guinea at the Charles Konan Banny Stadium.
Because of the fog around Yamoussoukro Airport, which makes it dangerous for planes to land, the goalkeeper tried to drive to the stadium.
Instead, his distant cousin Fabrice Ondoa, who plays in the third level of French football, stood between the posts for the whole game. Onana didn’t even make it to the bench.
Of course, Ondoa gave up the goal after only ten minutes, as Guinea quickly got their Afcon campaign going.
And Frank Magri scored to tie the game for Cameroon just five minutes into the second half when Guinea had just been down to ten men.
After a 1-1 draw in their first game, Cameroon will also play Senegal and Gambia in their Afcon group.
Rigobert Song, who used to play for West Ham and Liverpool, will be in charge of the Central African nation’s team at the event.
Onana missed Cameroon’s pre-championship game against Zambia to help United beat Wigan 2-0 in the FA Cup third round last week.
Ten Hag now has Altay Bayindir as his number two instead of Onana until the end of his international service.
The star player from Inter Milan went to Old Trafford for £47.1 million over the summer.