How heroic Camara propelled Guinea to Paris 2024
Guinea midfielder Aguibou Camara was the recipient of many post-match plaudits following their Olympic play-off success – and his eye-catching performance augers well for his side’s chances at Paris 2024.
Guinea qualified for Paris 2024 with 1-0 play-off win over Indonesia
Midfielder Aguibou Camara was influential in Clairefontaine victory
The Men's Olympic Football Tournament kicks off in France on 24 July
Homer’s Odyssey, the epic poem recounting the return of Ulysses to his homeland, has a special place in Greek heritage. Young Guinean Aguibou Camara has been immersed in this culture since 2021, when he joined Olympiacos from Lille. The attacking midfielder was subsequently loaned to Atromitos, based in the suburbs of Athens, the capital of Greece and the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
Just as the Greek literary hero deals with a multitude of challenges during his eventful journey, Camara has shown himself adept at tackling any obstacles barring the path of the Guinean Olympic side. Case in point: the play-off for the 2024 Men’s Olympic Football Tournament against Indonesia on Thursday at Clairefontaine, during which the diminutive playmaker was the star of the show in a hard-fought 1-0 win for Kaba Diawara’s men.
“It was like we were playing with 12 guys out there, because Aguibou was absolutely everywhere,” stated coach Diawara. “He’s a fantastic footballer. He’s going to be a key player for us during the Olympic Games, and he’s going to delight the fans.”
The Matam native won challenges all over the pitch, his innate sense of anticipation allowing him to thwart countless Indonesian attacks. “His football IQ is well above average,” explained team captain Saidou Sow. “Even before the ball gets to his feet, he already knows in his mind what he wants to do with it. There actually aren't many players like him. It's a real pleasure to play alongside him because he makes my job easier, and I learn quite a bit just by watching him.”
To fully understand the words of the Guinea skipper, one only needs to study Camara’s performance on Thursday. With 27 minutes gone in the first half, the talented 22-year-old pounced on a ball lost by Marselino Ferdinan and immediately launched a dangerous counter-attack, at the conclusion of which the Guineans were awarded a penalty after Algassime Bah was tripped in the box. Ilaix Moriba made no mistake from the spot, giving the Africans a crucial lead.
In addition to his role in creating the goal, Camara’s calming presence prior to the penalty was also notable. “He came up to me just before I took the kick and told me that everything was going to be all right,” said Moriba. “He always knows what to say to keep you calm in that split second. He’s more than a team-mate.”
A quiet individual away from football, Camara is more exuberant on the pitch, always willing to try something out of the ordinary, such as his powerful shot from the edge of the box which was well saved by Indonesian goalkeeper Ernando Ari.
“I’d like to see more of him in that area of the field – I think he could really flourish there.” said Diawara, clearly keen for his player to improve on his international scoring record of six goals in 35 appearances (senior and U-23 teams combined).
Those modest statistics will likely improve as he adds to his burgeoning footballing portfolio, which already includes senior qualifying matches for the FIFA World Cup 26™ – he even found the net in a 2-1 victory over Uganda – and playing at the CAF Africa Cup of Nations in January, where Guinea reached the quarter-finals.
“We had to maintain our composure [against Indonesia],” coach Diawara added. “Whoever managed to keep their focus would qualify for the Olympic Games. We did well from that point of view. However, we're going to have to prepare effectively to make up for some of our shortcomings, because the tournament is just around the corner.”
When the final whistle blew at Clairefontaine, it was party time for every Guinea player involved, except one. After congratulating his team-mates and the backroom staff, Camara swiftly returned to the dressing room, explaining “I’ve got a plane to catch in 90 minutes!”
Consistently courteous, he still found the time to share his thoughts with the Guinean media representatives who had turned up en masse to cover the encounter. “For now, it hasn’t quite dawned on me yet that we’re going to compete at the Olympic Games,” he said, smiling broadly. “Since I’ve been living in Greece, everyone’s talked to me about the tournament, and now I’m going to experience it. That’s just amazing. I can’t wait.”