Andre Onana, a goalkeeper for Cameroon, has resigned from international competition at the age of just 26.
The Inter goalkeeper travelled to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup with Cameroon and started the opening match, a 1-0 loss to Switzerland. However, after a disagreement over strategy with manager Rigobert Song, the goalie missed their 3-3 draw against Serbia on matchday two.
After the argument, Onana left early for home as Cameroon failed to advance past the group stage.
He later announced his departure from the Cameroon team on social media, saying in a statement: "It all began in Ngol Nkok, a little community where, from a very young age, my family passed on to me the virtues that characterise the Cameroonian people. I realised that loyalty to our nation is unwavering and that dedication cannot be compromised.
“I remember how we watched the matches as a family.”
The statement continues: “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 team has come to an end. Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any person or player.”
He went on to state that Cameroon remains “eternal” as does his love for the national team, before thanking “those who trusted (him) and believed that (he) could add and contribute to this team”.
Former Ajax star Onana was capped 34 times for his country after making his debut in 2016 and helped them to a third place finish at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
He signed for Inter this summer after a seven-and-a-half year stay in Amsterdam that ended on a sour note as he served a nine-month ban for testing positive to a banned substance.