Football
ESPN staff 8y

Tony Tchani makes Cameroon debut, cap-tying one-time U.S. player

Midfielder Tony Tchani made his debut for Cameroon on Saturday, cap-tying him to the nation of his birth less than two months after he made his international debut for the United States.

The Columbus Crew SC player came on as a substitute for the U.S. in a friendly against Iceland on Jan. 31.

But Tchani has now committed his future to Cameroon after playing in Saturday's 2-2 draw against South Africa in an African Nations Cup qualifier.

Because the qualifier is an official competition and not a friendly, Tchani is no longer eligible to play for the U.S.

The 26-year-old was called up by U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann in November for a pair of World Cup qualifiers but he had to pull out because of injury.

Tchani has played his entire career in the United States. After winning an NCAA championship with Virginia, he was drafted by the New York Red Bulls in 2010.

The holding midfielder was then traded to Toronto FC in April 2011, but only spent two months there before the Crew acquired him.

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