Cameroon vs Guinea LINE-UPS: Onana Absent, Anguissa & Nkoudou Start, Ondoa In

Cameroon faced Guinea in a highly anticipated opening group stage match at the Africa Cup of Nations, and the absence of star goalkeeper Andre Onana raised eyebrows among fans and pundits alike.

Onana, who caught a flight to AFCON after Manchester United's clash with Tottenham at Old Trafford, missed the crucial tournament opener. It was revealed that the goalkeeper deliberately delayed his departure to participate in the critical Premier League clash, which ended in a 2-2 draw. This decision showcased Onana's commitment to both his club and national team responsibilities.

The responsibility of guarding the goalpost fell on Onana's distant cousin, Fabrice Ondoa, for the match against Guinea. Ondoa, a capable goalkeeper, stepped up to the challenge as Cameroon sought to secure a positive start in the tournament.

Notably, Onana had already chosen to skip Cameroon's warm-up game against Zambia to play in the FA Cup third-round win over Wigan the previous week. His dedication to competitive football at the highest levels was evident, even at the expense of some pre-tournament preparations.

The confirmed line-ups for Cameroon featured a strong starting XI, including key players like Karl Toko Ekambi, Olivier Ntcham, and G.K Nkoudou. The team composition aimed to compensate for Onana's absence and maintain a competitive edge against Guinea.

Cameroon's XI:

- Ekambi

- Castelletto

- Fabrice Ondoa

- Olivier Ntcham

- Olivier Kemen

- G.K Nkoudou

- Harold Moukoudi

- Anguissa

- Frank Magri

- Christopher Wooh

- Darlin Yongwa

Substitutes:

- Devis Epassy

- N'Jie

- Nicolas Moumi Ngamaleu

- Oumar Gonzalez

- Nouhou

- Yvan Neyou

- Faris Moumbagna

- Ben Elliott

- Ngapandouetnbu

- Enzo Tchato

- Junior Tchamadeu

Guinea, on the other hand, presented a formidable lineup with players such as Julian Jeanvier, Kamano, and Ilaix Moriba aiming to make an impact on the match.

Guinea's XI:

- Ibrahim Koné

- Julian Jeanvier

- Antoine Conte

- Diakhaby

- Kamano

- Mory Konaté

- Aguibou Camara

- Mohamed Bayo

- Sekou Sylla

- Ilaix Moriba

- Morgan Guilavogui

Substitutes:

- Aly Keita

- Sylla

- José Kanté

- Naby Keita

- Moussa Camara

- Mohamed Camara

- Seydouba Cissé

- Saïdou Sow

- Ibrahim Diakité

- Karim Cissé

- Facinet Conte

As the match unfolded, fans eagerly awaited to see how the absence of Andre Onana would impact Cameroon's performance and whether Fabrice Ondoa could rise to the occasion in this crucial tournament fixture.