- Manchester United goalkeeper Andre Onana is reportedly anxious about potentially losing his starting spot during the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON)
- With Onana expected to represent Cameroon in AFCON, Altay Bayindir may step in as the Red Devils’ goalkeeper in his absence
Manchester United’s primary goalkeeper, Andre Onana, is reportedly anxious about potentially losing his spot in the Red Devils’ team during the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in January.
The Cameroonian international quickly solidified his position as Erik ten Hag’s first-choice goalkeeper after joining Inter Milan, where he played a crucial role in their journey to the Champions League final.
Having scouted various options to replace the departing David de Gea, Manchester United invested £43.3m to secure Onana’s services in the Premier League, signing him to a five-year deal with an option until 2029.
However, with the AFCON scheduled for January 13 to February 11, Onana faces the possibility of being absent from the team for a significant period. During his absence, Altay Bayindir is expected to take over the goalkeeping responsibilities.
Onana had initially retired from international duty with Cameroon during the 2022 World Cup due to a disagreement with head coach Rigobert Song. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old has since reconciled with the national team setup, anticipating a call-up for the AFCON next year. This situation raises concerns for Onana regarding his starting position at Manchester United during this crucial period.
Super Eagles drop two places in latest FIFA rankings
The Super Eagles of Nigeria have dropped by two spots in the latest FIFA ranking to place 42nd in the world.
In the ranking table on the website of the world football governing body, on Thursday, the Eagles dropped 16.04 points to rank 1474.44 points as against 1490.48 in October.
However, the drop did not affect the team’s placement on the continent, as it still remained the 6th team on the continent, behind Morocco, Senegal, Tunisia, Algeria, and Egypt, respectively.
The drop in ranking comes after the Super Eagles were held to a 1-1 draw in their two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches against Lesotho on Nov. 16 and Zimbabwe on Nov. 19.