Titi Camara, the former Guinean football star, found himself ousted from his position as Minister of Sports in a recent ministerial reshuffle in Guinea. Although no official explanation was provided for his removal, speculation in the Guinean capital suggests that Camara had fallen out of favor with several local football players. Sanoussy Bantama Sow has taken over the role.
Having assumed the position in 2010, the 39-year-old legend had lost the support of fans, team players, and officials from FeGuiFoot (Guinean Football Federation). His tenure was marked by a failure to revitalize the national Syli and rejuvenate the football championship. Recently, Camara faced public disapproval when he was booed at the September 28 stadium during a football match.
One of the key issues during Camara’s term was the management of unpaid salaries and suspicions of embezzlement. Despite the Guinean Ministry of Sports directly overseeing the national football team, Camara was consistently criticized by coach Michel Dussuyer, who frequently voiced concerns about delayed salary payments. Expatriate players also raised complaints about subpar travel and accommodation conditions during Syli regrouping. Kevin Constant, one of the players, decided to retire from international football this Monday in response.
Adding to the challenges, a few months ago, Titi Camara and some fellow ministers were implicated in a case involving embezzlement and mismanagement of funds allocated for the preparation of the national team during the CAN 2012.
Titi Camara, a former international player with an illustrious career that included stints at clubs like Saint Etienne, Lens, Marseille, Liverpool, and West Ham, concluded his 16-year high-level playing career in 2004.
