Sport

André Onana makes AFCON U-turn as he decides to stay with Manchester United for crucial game

The tournament is set to start this weekend but Onana will still be here in Manchester.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 10th January 2024

Manchester United goalkeeper André Onana has reportedly decided he is not going to AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) when he originally planned to as the Cameroonian shot-stopper is now set to miss his country’s opener this weekend.

Onana was due to fly to the Ivory Coast in time for the tournament’s start and Cameroon’s first match against Guinea on Saturday, 13 January but, according to iSport, he has now decided to remain with Man United for a key Premier League meeting with Spurs on Sunday.

The outlet claims that the 27-year-old is wary of losing his place to backup keeper, Altay Bayindir, and is instead focusing on shoring up his position after a somewhat shaky start to life at Old Trafford.

Bayindir is still yet to make a single appearance for United since joining in September 2023, with Onana also remaining in goal for the FA Cup win over Wigan but was expected to get his first run out in the no.24’s absence. However, it is now looking like he could potentially be waiting even longer.

Sources close to Onana have assured he has been given the green light by Cameroon’s FA — headed up by footballing legend Samuel Eto’o — to miss the opening game, but there is apparently a possibility that he might not feature in it whatsoever.

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Not only is pretty rare for a nation to change the player between the posts in the middle of a major international tournament but given the number one’s tumultuous past with his team’s head coach, Rigobert Song, skipping even one game could prove problematic.

Onana technically retired from international football in December 2022 after continuously clashing with Song over the team’s tactics and playing style, being sent home from the Qatar World Cup and then retiring at the age of just 26.

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He issued an emotional statement following what he stated was an enforced exclusion.

Onana’s AFCON chances and United appearances over the next month could hinge on this prior beef with Song.

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Onana ultimately came out of retirement late last year due to the “expectation and support of Cameroonians”, but those in and around the national team set-up insist that just because he has returned to the fold doesn’t mean that he and the manager have patched things up.

Nevertheless, were the five-time AFCON winners (the second-most successful nation of all time) to go out in the group stages, it would mean the former Ajax and Inter Milan keeper wouldn’t have to miss a single minute for United as their next game after Spurs isn’t until 27 January.

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Given he has remained a bit of an unknown quantity, many fans would have also been keen to see how his Turkish stand-in performed when given a few games, but plenty will argue that the last thing Onana needs is dropping out of the team and having to regain his form at club level.

What about you, Reds — would you like the opportunity to see what Bayindir is made of or are you hoping Onana stays home?

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Featured Images — Wikimedia Commons

Sport

2024 Manchester Marathon raises £29 million for local economy and over £3.7m for charity

Danny Jones Danny Jones Manchester Marathon raises millions for city economy and local charity

Just under a fortnight on from the 2024 Manchester Marathon and the numbers are finally, with the annual race generating nearly £30 million for the local economy and raising over £3.7m for charity.

This year’s Adidas Manchester Marathon saw record numbers of runners and spectators as over 30,000 took part in the popular race, up by roughly 6,000 from 2023, and more than 125k turned up to line the streets of Greater Manchester.

As a result, these huge crowds spent upwards of £29.2 million at business around the city centre and around the 10 boroughs last weekend, serving as one of the most significant contributions to the local economy on the annual calendar.

Not only was this an approximately £8m increase on last year’s tally but, most importantly, a sizeable chunk of that went straight into both regional and national charities.

The 2024 adidas Manchester Marathon was a spectacular day for the city and its economy.

Beyond the boost to local vendors, the hospitality sector and retail businesses, over £3.7 million were allocated to charities such as Alzheimer’s Charity, Cancer Research UK, British Heart Foundation and The Christie. 

Over £32,000 was also raised for the Trafford Active Fund, with £1 from every paid entry to the Adidas Manchester Marathon and Manchester Half donated directly to the initiative that benefits local sports clubs and organisations through Trafford Council.

Better still, with City of Trees selected as the chosen ‘Green Runner’ charity, the eco-friendly drive saw roughly 7% of participants opt out of receiving either a finisher t-shirt, medal or both.

The money saved in production goes towards maintaining woodlands and wildlife across Greater Manchester.

Fundraising from the Manchester Marathon is one of it’s biggest upshots.

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This year’s Manchester Marathon also helped produce some of the highest number of passengers on public transport in the city’s history, with a over 175,000 journeys made on Metrolink alone – the highest number of journeys ever recorded on a single day.

This was a 20% increase on 2023’s race day (145k), spotlighting how the event continues to be more environmentally conscious as years go by.

With the 2025 adidas Manchester Marathon confirmed to be taking place on Sunday, 27 April next year – and over 12,000 places already sold – the city can already look forward to reaping the economic and social benefits of hosting one of Europe’s largest, flattest, friendliest and most-loved marathons. 

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — Adidas Manchester Marathon/The Manc Group

Sport

‘Enough is enough’: Marcus Rashford calls out fans for ‘months’ of abuse

Danny Jones Danny Jones Marcus Rashford responds to fan abuse: 'enough is enough'

Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has put his foot down in a social media post, calling for an end to ‘months of abuse’ from both his own supporters and beyond.

It’s fair to say that the 26-year-old hasn’t been enjoying his best season in a United shirt and while he has had his moments this year – his goal against Arsenal and stunning opener in the Manchester derby, just to name a couple – he’s come under a lot of pressure from supporters.

Rashford previously came out to address the situation in a Players Tribune interview back in February, stating, “I can’t have people questioning my commitment to Man United”, but now the England international has reiterated the point after someone came to his defence on X.

Quoting a fan who wrote that “the way Marcus Rashford is being treated is absolutely disgusting”, calling the behaviour online and on matchdays in some cases as “cruel” and downright abuse”, he responded by declaring: “Enough is enough”.

Rashford breaks his silence on the recent abuse.

The Wythenshawe winger has already labelled doubts over his effort levels, love and loyalty to the club “ridiculous”, reiterating time and time again that he’s a boyhood Red, but that hasn’t stopped people continuing to criticise him online.

Sadly, while he’s also insisted that he “can take criticism” and headlines when his performances aren’t quite up to scratch, the negativity hasn’t just been limited to social media and has been spilling out into the matchday stands.

Reports of Rashford being booed off the pitch by his own supporters at Wembley during United’s admittedly chaotic performance against Coventry City in the FA Cup semi-final were confirmed by multiple sources at the time.

Although he didn’t comment on the response from the travelling Reds at the time, it’s now clear he was abundantly aware of the frosty reception as he was substituted, with many within the fan base and beyond calling the decision to boo your own players “classless” and “shameful”.

Many have drawn parallels to Harry Maguire’s treatment in recent years.

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With seven goals and five assists to his name across all competitions this season, it’s fair to say Marcus Rashford has been a far cry away from the heights he has managed to hit in recent years.

It was only last season that he hit a career-high record of 40 goal contributions, sitting as one of the most prolific players in all of Europe during another difficult season for the club, even managing to surpass club legend Andy Cole’s record.

Just goes to show how short people’s memories can really be – especially when it comes to football – and Erik ten Hag has already urged patience from his fans when it comes to his players, and not just his number ten.

‘The Beautiful Game’ is and always will be a fickle sport but it’s worth reminding of just how much the academy product has already delivered during his time at Man United. Anyone can have a tough season.

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Featured Images — Manchester United (via Instagram)

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