Cameroon goalkeeper Andre Onana announced his retirement from international football a month after a fallout with national team coach Rigobert Song at the World Cup in Qatar.
Inter Milan gloveman Onana, 26, did not give specific reasons for his decision, saying only his “story with the Cameroonian national team has come to an end”.
“Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any player or person,” Onana said in a statement on Friday.
“Cameroon remains eternal, as does my love for the national team and for our people, who have always supported us no matter how difficult the moment was.”
Onana played in his side’s opening 1-0 loss to Switzerland in Qatar but was dropped for the next two matches after a reported disagreement with Song over tactics.
The country’s federation (FECAFOOT) said at the time he was suspended for “disciplinary reasons”. Onana won 34 caps after making his debut in 2016.
He said in a statement: “It all started in Ngol Nkok, a small village where, from a very young age, my family passed on to me the values that identify the Cameroonian people. I understood that love for this country is eternal and that commitment is non-negotiable.
André Onana retires from International football. “My story with Cameroon has come to an end” ⤵️🇨🇲 #Onana pic.twitter.com/HzvsAaUYCP
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 23, 2022
“I remember how we watch the matches as a family. Only Cameroonians can understand what it means to us to see the Indomitable Lions play. That’s when I started dreaming of one day wearing the national team jersey. and now, after endless hours of training, endless trips and a lot of perseverance, I can proudly say that I have fulfilled my great dream.
“But every story, however beautiful it may be, has its end. And my story with the Cameroonian national trams has come to an end. Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any person or player. Cameroon remains eternal and so does my love for the national team and for our people who have always supported us no matter how difficult the moment was.
“My feeling will never change. My Cameroonian heart will continue to beat and wherever I go I will always fight to lift the flag of Cameroon as high as possible. I will continue to support as a fan, just as the more than 27 million Cameroonians do at every match. I can only thanks all those who trusted me and believed that I could add and contribute to this team.”
