André Onana has been left out of the Cameroon squad for the AFCON 2025 tournament which begins on December 21, 2025.
The 28-man squad was named by newly-appointed head coach David Pagou.
Context of the Omission
Coaching Turmoil: Onana's omission comes amid significant upheaval in the Cameroonian national team setup.
The Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT), led by president Samuel Eto'o, recently sacked the previous coach, Belgian Marc Brys, just days before the tournament and replaced him with Pagou.
Past Controversies: Onana has a history of friction within the national team camp, including a public falling out with former coach Rigobert Song during the 2022 World Cup which led to a temporary international retirement.
Other Notable Absences: Onana is one of several high-profile players omitted from the squad,
including experienced captain and striker Vincent Aboubakar and Napoli midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa (who is injured).
Club Impact: Onana is currently on loan to Trabzonspor from Manchester United.
His exclusion means he will be available for his club team's fixtures during the AFCON period.
Included Player: Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo was included in the squad list.
The decision to leave out Onana is a significant blow to Cameroon's experience and a high-profile decision by the new coaching staff ahead of a tricky Group F campaign against holders Ivory Coast, Gabon, and Mozambique.