Nimes goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa has opened up about the sacrifices he made to represent Cameroon at the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, which ultimately cost him his place at Barcelona.
In an interview with Foot Mercato, Ondoa explained how his commitment to national duty impacted his career at Barcelona. Despite signing his first professional contract with Barcelona and being hailed as a trailblazer as the first African goalkeeper to achieve this feat, Ondoa’s priorities shifted when he chose to prioritize playing for Cameroon.
Ondoa recounted a conversation with the reserve coach at Barcelona, who warned him that choosing to play for Cameroon could jeopardize his position as the club’s number one goalkeeper. Despite the advice, Ondoa remained steadfast in his decision to represent his country.
“While I played with Barcelona’s reserves in the second division, I received a reminder from the reserve coach that going to the national team might affect my playing time at the club. Unfortunately, after joining the national team, I never played for Barcelona again,” Ondoa explained.