How many Man Utd games will Andre Onana miss due to AFCON?

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 11 Jan 2024 08:31 GMT
• 5 min read

Andre Onana has endured a tricky start to life at Manchester United following his €50.2 million summer transfer from Inter Milan.

The ex-La Masia academy graduate was at fault for several goals during the Red Devils’ disastrous Champions League group stage campaign and the best efforts of Man Utd’s attacking players was often undone by errors made by Onana.

In the Premier League, however, he has been better and the former Inter shot-stopper has displayed moments of genuine class in the English top flight.

But, he has been selected by Cameroon for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (which actually takes place in 2024) and could now miss several Man Utd matches.

The number of Man Utd games that Onana may miss will depend on how far Cameroon progress in the competition.

In fact, he may not be absent for any Red Devils games at all after Erik ten Hag’s side reached an agreement with the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT).

All players selected to represent their country at AFCON were required to report to international duty on 1 January, which is why West Ham United were without Mohammed Kudus for their game against Brighton & Hove Albion on 2 January.

However, FECAFOOT have allowed Onana to stay with Man Utd until 14 January - the day before Cameroon’s first match of AFCON.

That is because Onana had already retired from international duty when he moved to Old Trafford, with his non-participation in AFCON explicitly communicated to Man Utd before he joined.

He was then persuaded to return to international football, but FECAFOOT have acknowledged that Man Utd were not expecting to be without Onana during AFCON this year. As a result, he will leave for the competition immediately after the Red Devils’ Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on 14 January.

When will Andre Onana be back from the Africa Cup of Nations?

The length of Onana’s absence will depend entirely on how well Cameroon perform in the competition. Remarkably, the minimum number of Man Utd games he could miss is zero, while the maximum is four.

He will be available for Ten Hag’s selection against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup third-round (8 January) and versus Tottenham in the Premier League (14 January).

Onana will then fly to Ivory Coast and be in action at AFCON when Cameroon face Guinea a day later on Monday, 15 January at 17:00 GMT. Cameroon are in Group C, alongside Gambia, Guinea and Senegal.

Cameroon’s second game of 2023 AFCON is scheduled for Friday, 19 January (vs Senegal) and their final group stage match takes place on Tuesday, 23 January (vs Gambia).

If Cameroon are knocked out in the group stages, then Onana will not miss a single Man Utd game and would be able to return for a possible FA Cup fourth-round tie on the weekend of 27 January (if they beat Wigan in the third-round).

If Cameroon progress beyond the group stages then Man Utd could be without Onana for a few games.

If Cameroon are eliminated at the round of 16 stage, Onana will miss the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Newport County or Eastleigh.

If Cameroon are eliminated in the quarter-finals, Onana will also miss Man Utd’s trip to Molineux to face Wolves on 1 February and potentially their home match against West Ham on 4 February (depending on which side of the draw Cameroon are in).

If Cameroon are eliminated in the semi-finals, Onana will be absent versus David Moyes’ side and would likely miss Man Utd’s clash against Aston Villa on 11 February as the third-play play-off takes place at 20:00 GMT the day before.

If Cameroon reach the final, then Onana will miss the game against Unai Emery’s side as the final is scheduled for 11 February. He would return for Man Utd’s trip to Luton Town’s Kenilworth Road on 18 February.

Why has 2023 AFCON been delayed?

The tournament was scheduled to be held between June and July 2023, but a rainy summer season in Ivory Coast ensured AFCON was cancelled and rescheduled for January 2024. As a result, several top players will miss domestic games in order to represent their country.

The first fixture of the tournament is on Saturday, 13 January, with hosts Ivory Coast taking on Guinea-Bissau.