Young Metz player Lamine Camara stood out in the Senegal-Gambia match by some distance. His second goal is already considered a candidate for the title of the most beautiful goal of the AFCON 2023. And he seemingly came out of nowhere!At 20 years old and already showing so much talent, Senegalese midfielder Camara left a lasting impression in his first match in the Africa Cup of Nations. Scoring a brace against Gambia (3-0), the young Metz player displayed all the talent that observers had anticipated.AFCON 2023: Senegal spank ten-man Gambia in group C openerAnd the third goal, his second of the game, will likely be remembered as one of the most beautiful in this competition, which has just begun. In the 85th minute of the match, Lamine Camara took advantage of the excellent work of Marseille’s Iliman Ndiaye on the right wing to punish the Gambian goalkeeper with a clear shot. From 20 meters in front of the goal, the young Senegalese found the top corner with a perfect trajectory from his right foot, leaving no chance for Baboucarr Gaye, who was slightly advanced at the start of the ball.Sen 🇸🇳3-0 🇬🇲 Gambia 87’⚽️ Pape Gueye 4’⚽️ ⚽️Lamine Camara 52′ 86’Lamine Camara with a beauty🙌🏾. You definitely see why he was awarded the CAF young player of the year. The 20 year old is good.#AFCON2023pic.twitter.com/tmG63yuFqu— Elijah Ouko (@elijah_ouko) January 15, 2024 The young Metz midfielder is no stranger to scoring. He has already scored four goals in nine appearances while playing for the Ligue 1 team.”I’m happy with this recognition. This is the result of the hard work that we all did. Winning the first match remains a good thing. I am pleased after scoring a brace in the match, and I must remain focused now on the rest of the matches. I am pleased to participate in such a tournament with the first team and to be in the company of senior players such as Sadio Mane and others. These players are the ones who helped me stand out today.”##NAJAVA_MECA_7805356##The year 2023 has been highly eventful for his boy. He moved to France, after having impressed with Generation Foot in his homeland. The comparisons with some of the biggest players in his position, like Sergio Busquets, Casemiro and N’Golo Kante, didn’t seem to faze him.Just 18 months ago, the boy born in a small village in southwestern Senegal participated in the COSAFA Cup in South Africa as part of the West African guest nation. In a short span, he has garnered accolades, winning Player of the Tournament at the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations and being a standout performer for Senegal at the African Nations Championship. His move to France with Metz further enhanced his reputation, earning him the 2023 CAF Young Player of the Year award. The young midfielder’s performances continue to generate excitement and anticipation for his future in football.
