Cameroon coach Rigobert Song picked his squad for next month’s Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday, including Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana but leaving out Bayern Munich forward Eric-Maxime Choupo-Moting.
Onana, 27, left Cameroon after a disagreement with Song during last year’s World Cup in Qatar, but returned after reconciling with the coach to help Cameroon qualify for the Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, which begin on January 13.
Choupo-Moting, who made his Cameroon debut in the 2010 World Cup, suffered the price for missing Cameroon’s previous three matches.
“Choupo-Moting is a fantastic player.” However, my staff and I desire the continuity of recent times. He’s an important player, but we had to make a decision that was consistent with what we’ve been doing for a long time,” Song said at a news conference as he named his 27-man team.
Cameroon will be missing Brentford attacker Bryan Mbeumo, who had ankle surgery earlier this month.
Song stunned everyone by selecting 17-year-old Wilfried Nathan Doualla, who plays in the Cameroon league and has never been called up before.
Captain Vincent Aboubakar will compete in his fifth Cup of Nations finals.
Cameroon will play Guinea in their first Group C encounter on January 15, before facing holders Senegal and Gambia.
Cameroon squad:
Goalkeepers: Devis Epassy, Simon Ngapandouetnbu, André Onana, Fabrice Ondoa
Defenders: Malcom Bokele, Jean-Charles Castelletto, Oumar Gonzalez, Harold Moukoudi, Tolo Nouhou, Junior Tchamadeu, Enzo Tchato, Christopher Wooh, Darling Yongwa
Midfielders: Wilfried Nathan Doualla, Ben Elliott , Olivier Kemen, Yvan Neyou, Olivier Ntcham, Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa
Forwards: Vincent Aboubakar, Leonel Ateba, Frank Magri, Faris Pemi Moumbagna, Francois-Regis Mughe, Clinton Njie, Georges-Kevin Nkoudou, Karl Toko Ekambi