After World Cup Dispute, Onana Ends Career with Cameroon

Cameroon's goalkeeper André Onana takes part in a training session at the Al Sailiya SC Training Site in Doha on November 27, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Cameroon and Serbia. (AFP)
Cameroon's goalkeeper André Onana takes part in a training session at the Al Sailiya SC Training Site in Doha on November 27, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Cameroon and Serbia. (AFP)
TT

After World Cup Dispute, Onana Ends Career with Cameroon

Cameroon's goalkeeper André Onana takes part in a training session at the Al Sailiya SC Training Site in Doha on November 27, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Cameroon and Serbia. (AFP)
Cameroon's goalkeeper André Onana takes part in a training session at the Al Sailiya SC Training Site in Doha on November 27, 2022, on the eve of the Qatar 2022 World Cup football match between Cameroon and Serbia. (AFP)

Cameroon goalkeeper André Onana ended his career with the national team on Friday, one month after the 26-year-old player was sent home from the World Cup in a dispute with coach Rigobert Song.

The Inter Milan player posted a statement on his Twitter account saying “my story with the Cameroonian national team has come to an end.”

“Players come and go, names are fleeting, but Cameroon comes before any person or player,” Onana wrote, without citing reasons for his decision. “Cameroon remains eternal and so does my love for the national team.”

The last of Onana’s 34 international games was the 1-0 loss to Switzerland on Nov. 24 at the World Cup in Qatar.

Onana later released a statement referring to his disagreement with Song over team tactics that led to him being dropped for the next game, a 3-3 draw with Serbia.

“I have put all my efforts and energy into finding solutions to a situation that a footballer often experiences, but there has been no will on the other side,” Onana said then. “Some moments are difficult to assimilate.”

Song later said he needed all his players to “show discipline and respect.”

Cameroon went on to beat Brazil 1-0 in its final Group G game but did not advance to the round of 16.



Hamilton Reveals Long Battle with Depression in Times Interview

British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
TT

Hamilton Reveals Long Battle with Depression in Times Interview

British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)
British driver Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes-AMG Petronas being interviewed after coming in third in the qualifying for the Singapore Formula One Grand Prix at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, Singapore, 21 September 2024. (EPA)

Seven-time Formula One champion Lewis Hamilton battled with depression for years from an early age as he dealt with the pressure of pursuing a career in motor racing and faced bullying at school, the 39-year-old told The Times in an interview.

Hamilton, who has been racing competitively since he was six, said he has also battled with depression as an adult, and has found it difficult to open up about his journey.

"I think it was the pressure of the racing and struggling at school. The bullying. I had no one to talk to," Hamilton said in the interview published on Saturday.

"I’ve struggled with mental health through my life, depression from a very early age when I was, like, 13... when I was in my twenties I had some really difficult phases."

Hamilton made his Formula One debut in 2007 when he was 21, becoming the first Black driver in the series. He won the championship next year and matched Michael Schumacher's record of seven championships in 2020.

The Briton said he felt more mature today than he was earlier in his career.

"You’re learning about things that have been passed down to you from your parents, noticing those patterns, how you react to things, how you can change those," he said.

"So what might have angered me in the past doesn’t anger me today. I am so much more refined."

Hamilton said he has tried silent retreats to improve his mental health, and while talking to a therapist years ago did not help, he would like to find one in the future.

The Mercedes driver, who is set to join Ferrari next year, is sixth in the championship, with the next race set for Austin next month.