Guinean midfielder Ajiabo Camara claimed the Man of the Match award in his nation’s encounter against Gambia during the second round of the Africa Cup of Nations 2023, marking a pivotal moment as he propels Guinea closer to the knockout stages.
Camara secured Guinea’s victory with a solitary goal in the 69th minute, positioning his team favorably in Group Three with 4 points.
They are now trailing Senegal, the group leaders, by a mere two points, and hold a three-point lead over Cameroon, currently in third place.
Here is the compelling journey of this player, as featured in the FilGoal.com Afcon Carnival, capturing the stories of all participating athletes.
Born in Conakry, Guinea, Camara emerged through the football academy system before joining Elephants de Coleah in 2017.
In 2019, a scout from the French club Lille spotted his potential and recruited him into the youth team.
Camara quickly earned a regular spot in the reserve team and participated in the UEFA Youth League.
Christopher Galtier, Lille’s coach at the time, called him up for a single match in the French Cup against Dijon.
Although he didn’t play in the league, Lille went on to clinch the title.
After the season, Camara declined to renew his contract with Lille and signed with Olympiacos, joining his brother Mady Camara in the Greek team.
There were reports in the English media suggesting Manchester United’s interest in acquiring both brothers from Olympiacos in a joint deal, but the move did not materialize.
Ajiabo Camara is currently on loan to Atromitos for the ongoing season.
Camara has represented Guinea at various age levels and participated in the U17 World Cup.
Additionally, he played in the U23 Africa Cup of Nations held in Morocco, where Guinea finished fourth, falling short of qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics.
