Midfielders like Lamine Camara are rare. It can be difficult to define precisely what he does well because he does everything well. Comparisons to N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba feel lazy, but that isn’t to say there aren’t elements of Camara’s game that are similar. This is why the 20-year-old stood out more than any other Senegalese player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
By Graham Ruthven
Senegal will look back at the tournament with disappointment. The Teranga Lions entered AFCON as defending champions and were the only team to get through the group stage with a 100% record. A penalty shootout defeat to hosts Ivory Coast in the Round of 16, however, stopped Aliou Cissé’s team from progressing any further.
In retrospect, though, the 2023 AFCON could still be remembered as a significant one for Senegal as it marked the breakthrough of Camara. The youngster had already caught the eye at the 2022 African Nations Championships (for domestic-based players only) and won Player of the Tournament at last year’s U20 AFCON, but he has reached new heights even since then.
The Man of the Match performance in Senegal’s opening 2023 AFCON fixture against the Gambia will live long in the memory. Indeed, Camara was the best player on a pitch that featured several proven stars, scoring twice including one stunning strike from outside the box that flashed into the top corner of the net.
While some central midfielders are content with keeping possession moving and maintaining their place in the team structure, Camara is always mindful of his next move. This is evident in the number of times he follows his pass to make a run into a pocket of space or in behind the opposition defence. It makes him extremely difficult to track.
Camara’s natural ability on the ball also makes him standout. While he is mobile and covers a lot of ground, there is a composure to his possession play. Not only that, Camara’s decision-making is sharper than is common for a player of his age. This was clear in the performances he produced at AFCON.
Defensively, Camara has plenty to offer too. He is in the 88th percentile for tackles made per 90 minutes and the 83rd percentile for passes blocked. Camara was a big part of the reason why Senegal only conceded one group stage goal at AFCON with the 20-year-old an effective barrier in front of the back four.
As an all-rounder, there aren’t many flaws in Camara’s game. He can dribble. He can pass over short and long distances. He can shoot from distance. He can tackle. He can read the game. He can even pose a threat from set pieces. All this explains why some consider him the most exciting Senegalese youngster in a generation.
“I have three role models: Kevin De Bruyne, Toni Kroos but, my biggest role model, it’s Idrissa Gueye,” said Camara in a recent interview, highlighting the different influences in his game. “Since I was little, I have drawn a lot of inspiration from him. And now that I’m with him in the national team, I watch what he does, during training, off the pitch…”
It’s unlikely Camara will remain at Metz beyond the end of the season. The midfielder only made the move to the French club last year, but most would agree he has already outgrown a team battling relegation near the bottom of Ligue 1. Camara’s performances at the 2023 AFCON only bolstered his reputation as one of the most talented young midfielders in the sport right now. There will be suitors.
The sight of Camara in tears after Senegal’s surprise elimination from the 2023 AFCON was a difficult one for fans of The Teranga Lions to digest, but the midfielder will have other opportunities to lift silverware. He is a key member of Senegal’s next generation which could be even more talented than the one that made AFCON history two years ago.
Like Sadio Mané, Camara came through the Generation Foot youth academy in his homeland. It’s clear in the way the 20-year-old plays and carries himself that he has had a good footballing education. “I hope I will do better than him,” Camara laughed when asked about his link to Mané. The way he’s going, the suggestion might not be a joke for much longer.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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