Cameroon’s shot stopper André Onana, who also plays for English Premier League side Manchester United, has acknowledged the challenging task facing Cameroon as they aim to advance to the next qualifying round, with Kenya still firmly in the picture.

Kenya leads Group J with four points from two matches, the same as Cameroon, but the Harambee Stars hold the top spot due to their superior goal difference, having scored two goals compared to Cameroon’s one. Both nations are vying for a place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals in Morocco.

Onana singled out Kenya as Cameroon’s main competitor in the group, expressing hope that his team will finish in one of the top two positions to secure qualification for AFCON.

“Kenya is the only team in our group that is giving us competition, but we hope to make it to the qualifying round,” Onana stated.

Reflecting on Cameroon’s recent performance, Onana noted the challenging match against Zimbabwe, highlighting the value of securing a point from the goalless draw in Kampala.

“The game against Zimbabwe was tough, but we came out with a point, which is good,” he added.

During his visit to Uganda, Onana was warmly received by Manchester United fans, and he expressed his gratitude for the positive reception at Namboole Stadium.

“I am happy with the love shown to me by the Ugandan Manchester United fans,” Onana remarked.

His comments echo the sentiments of Kenyan coach Engin Firat, who has warned Cameroon not to underestimate the Harambee Stars.

“Do they (Cameroon) think we are easy? Cameroon should be thinking about how they want to crack us. I’m not afraid of Cameroon; you saw how the boys played against Ivory Coast, Russia, and Qatar. If we have the boys together, they are very united and believe in each other. The boys are unbeaten this year and won a trophy abroad for the first time,” Firat stated confidently.

Currently, Zimbabwe sits third in Group J with two draws, while Namibia is at the bottom after suffering consecutive losses to Cameroon and Kenya.

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