During tonight’s CAF Awards 2023 ceremony, FC Metz’s Lamine Camara (19) won the African Young Player of the Year award, ahead of compatriot and club teammate Amara Diouf (15) and Real Betis’ Abde Ezzalzouli (21).
The award comes as a perfect conclusion to the young Senegalese’s dream breakout year. At the start of 2023, Camara had inspired Senegal to go all the way in the African Nations Championship, claiming the Player of the Tournament award, before leading the Senegalese team to the u-20 African Cup of Nations final, which they won against Gambia, once again being voted best player of the tournament.
A perfect year for Camara
The midfielder played a few games in last season’s Ligue 2, which ended in Metz’s promotion, before becoming a starter in Ligue 1 for László Bölöni’s side. He combines defensive relentlessness with tight-space-dribbling ability and an eye for long passing, making him one of the most promising players in the league at his position.
No doubt European clubs will be keen on singing Camara if he continues his meteoric rise.
