When announcing his squad for the Africa Cup of Nations next month on Thursday, Cameroon coach Rigobert Song opted to include Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana but omitted Eric-Maxime Choupo-Moting of Bayern Munich.

Onana, 27, withdrew from Cameroon following a dispute with Song at the World Cup in Qatar last year. However, he rejoined the team on January 13 in order to assist Cameroon in qualifying for the Cup of Nations finals in the Ivory Coast, where a reconciliation with the coach took place.

Choupo-Moting, who made his Cameroonian début at the 2010 World Cup, was adversely affected by the country’s absence from its last three matches.

“Choupo-Moting is an exceptionally talented player. However, both my staff and I desire the continuity of the present. “He is an important player, but we had to make a decision consistent with our recent strategy,” Song explained at a news conference when he announced his 27-man squad.

Bryan Mbeumo, a striker for Brentford, is expected to miss Cameroon’s match due to right ankle surgery that he underwent earlier this month.

Song’s unexpected selection of Wilfried Nathan Doualla, 17, a Cameroonian league player who had never been called-up prior, was noteworthy.

It will be captain Vincent Aboubakar’s fifth appearance in the Cup of Nations finals.

On January 15, Cameroon will face Guinea in their initial Group C matchup prior to 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