As I walk into the room, Lamine Camara picks up a football he clings to throughout the conversation. This serves as a powerful symbol for a dream he has always held onto. “My sole focus was the beautiful game; my mind was set on nothing else,” remarks this AS Monaco and Senegal midfielder.
His determination and raw talent convinced clubs like Metz, Monaco, and Génération Foot. However, the hardest approval to secure didn't come from a club executive or coach, it was from his dad. “He didn’t want me playing soccer simply because he had never watched me,” says Camara.
In time, on “one beautiful day,” he received his dad's approval to pursue his path in the sport. A further barrier was his modest frame, which discouraged local club Casa Sports from giving him a deal.
However, the famed academy – the club that produced talents including Sadio Mané, Papiss Cissé and Ismaïla Sarr – were convinced immediately. After Camara was named the best player in a local competition, the scouts were “shocked” to discover he was not tied down. They acted quickly. “I was taken directly to the academy. They prevented me from returning home,” he recalled.
That decision set him on a pathway to Europe. His breakthrough came in 2023, “a year to remember,” starting with him lifting the African Nations Championship. Just weeks later, though tired, he competed in the U-20 Africa Cup, leading his nation to victory and earning best player.
A month later, he was unveiled as Metz, following in the footsteps of Mané. “Settling in wasn't a problem,” says the 21-year-old. He has lived alone in Europe, a choice his family encourage to maintain his concentration.
Distractions aren't a concern for Camara, who looks up to Kevin De Bruyne’s “humility” and exceptional skills. He is also a huge fan of players like Fede Valverde, Toni Kroos, and his Senegal colleague Idrissa Gana Gueye.
His powerful shot and accuracy from dead-ball situations are key strengths. Camara confesses he must to control his competitive fire, after being sent off early in his spells at both Metz and Monaco. “It's a trait that is following me!” he quips.
At Monaco, he cherishes the guidance of teammates like Denis Zakaria and especially Paul Pogba. “When I heard Monaco were interested in Pogba, I told myself we are really lucky,” Camara noted.
Right now, attention is firmly on the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal. “We are the favourites – there's no denying it. If you beat England on their soil…,” he says, pointing to a memorable 3-1 win in Nottingham.
Regarding a transfer to the Premier League, he is committed to Monaco at present. “I feel really comfortable here,” he insists. However, he's frequently ribbed by Senegalese legend El-Hadji Diouf about his two Best Young Player awards. Camara jokes, but is serious about targeting the senior top prize in the future.
“We are the favourites – that's the reality. Having beaten England at Wembley… it gives you belief.”
Moving forward, Lamine Camara combines a modest start, steely determination, and grand ambitions as he aims to lead Senegal to continental glory and build his own legendary path in the world of football.
