It was an Andre Onana show at Mandela National Stadium, Namboole during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Cameroon and Zimbabwe on Tuesday.
He plays for one of the most supported clubs in the world, Manchester United and the United fans were in attendance and in abundance.
The above left the rest of the stars that graced Namboole overshadowed to an extent that some were not even noticed.
Europe’s top five leagues were represented on the pitch apart from the German Bundesliga. There were players from the English Premier League, Spanish Laliga, Italian Serie A, and French Ligue 1.
We take a look at star-players who were darkened in the Man United-Onana moment at Namboole.
Andre-Frank Zombo Anguissa – Napoli
Anguissa is an influential figure at the Italian club and plays game in game out in the anchoring role of the midfield.
He was amongst the players recognised by the fans as he moved to the team bus but this was after Onana had been whisked away.
Bryan Mbeumo – Brentford
Besides Onana, cameras and fans’ attention were a little bit more focused on him and the name Mbeumo was heard a couple of times.
Mbeumo plays for Brentford in the Premier League and he is a consistent performer for the Bees.
Following the departure of England striker Ivan Toney who left for Saudi Arabia, Mbeumo and DR Congo’s Yoane Wissa are arguably their best players.
And if Thomas Frank’s charges are to pick a positive result from their visit to Manchester City on Saturday, the duo has to be on top of its game at Etihad.
Carlos Baleba – Brighton
Balaba is a young prospect who plays for Premier League outfit Brighton and was brought in during the summer of 2023 from French Ligue 1 side Lille to replace Moises Caicedo who joined Chelsea.
He has been part of the Seagulls brilliant start to the 2024/25 season seated third on the 20-team EPL log with seven points after three games. He managed an assist as Fabian Hurzeler’s side thumped Crawley 4-0 in the EFL Cup.
The 20-year-old was in the midfield shielding the Cameroonian defence and was one of the best players on the pitch but the majority didn’t notice him.
Vincent Aboubakar – Hatayspor
Aboubakar is the Indomitable Lions’ captain and won the golden boot when they hosted AFCON in 2021 but a few fans were heard calling him out.
The 32-year-old currently plays in the Turkish Super Lig for Hatayspor.
He scored the only goal of the game in brilliant fashion as Cameroon defeated five-time World champions Brazil 1-0 in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was sent off for removing his shirt.
Christian Bassogog – Ankaragucu
Bossagog also features in the Turkish Super Ligi for Ankaragucu and fans tried to recognise him as he walked towards the team bus after the game.
He scored one of the two goals as Cameroon defeated Ghana 2-0 to reach the 2017 AFCON final in Gabon where they saw off record champions Egypt to win their fifth AFCON title. Micheal Ngadeu who also played at Namboole scored the other goal.
Captain Aboubakar scored the winning goal as Hugo Broos’ team came from a goal down to edge out the Pharaohs 2-1.
Cameroon defenders Christopher Wooh and forward Frank Magri play for French Ligue 1 sides Rennes and Toulouse, respectively while and left-back Jackson Tchatchoua plays for Verona in the Serie A.
There were also stars in the Zimbabwe team led by Khama Billiat who had tried as much as he could to lift the Warriors to the occasion, managing a couple of shots at Onana.
Billiat is an African football star and was the center of attention when the Zimbabweans drew 0-0 with Kenya on Friday but was also lost in the Onana consequence on Tuesday.
In fact the Uganda Cranes’ important 2-0 victory over Congo Brazzaville on Monday was also caught there.
