Abdoul Camara
Encyclopedia
Abdoul Razzagui Camara is a French footballer who currently plays for French club Sochaux
in Ligue 1
. He can play as a striker
, but is also often utilized as a left-sided winger.
, but eventually moved to France at a young age joining local club OS Fives, located in the commune
Fives, a suburb in the city of Lille
. In June 2004, he joined the prestigious youth academy of Stade Rennais. While playing in the youth system
, Camara was a part of a slew of youth talent. Among his teammates were Yann M'Vila
, Yacine Brahimi
, captain Samuel Souprayen
, Maxime Le Marchand
, and Damien Le Tallec
. The team effectively lived up to their reputation winning the under-18 championship for the 2006–07 season and the Coupe Gambardella
in 2008. On 15 August 2007, Camara, alongside M'Vila and Le Tallec, signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal. His play during the 2007–08 season was limited playing mainly with the club's Championnat de France amateur team and the under-18 squad. He was subsequently promoted to the senior team for the 2008–09 season. However, he wasn't assigned a number, and again, played on the club's CFA team appearing in 30 matches scoring 4 goals helping the side finish 1st among professional clubs in their group, thus qualifying for the playoffs, where they lost to Lyon
in the semi-finals. He made his professional debut for Rennes on the final matchday of the 2008–09 season appearing as a substitute in the club's 0–4 defeat to Marseille
.
club Vannes OC
for the entire season. Camara was given the first-team number 9 shirt and made his debut in the club's opening league match against Metz
appearing as a substitute. Vannes won the match 3–0.
, Camara is a naturalized citizen of France having served five years of residency in the country. He has played for the under-17 and under-18 teams. He was a part of the under-17 squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
.
FC Sochaux-Montbéliard
Football Club Sochaux-Montbéliard is a French association football club based in the city of Montbéliard. The club was founded in 1928 and currently plays in Ligue 1, the top tier of French football. Sochaux plays its home matches at the Stade Auguste Bonal located within the city...
in Ligue 1
Ligue 1
Ligue 1 , is the French professional league for association football clubs. It is the country's primary football competition and serves as the top division of the French football league system. Ligue 1 is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel, the other being Ligue 2....
. He can play as a striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, but is also often utilized as a left-sided winger.
Early career
Camara was born in GuineaGuinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, but eventually moved to France at a young age joining local club OS Fives, located in the commune
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
Fives, a suburb in the city of Lille
Lille
Lille is a city in northern France . It is the principal city of the Lille Métropole, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in the country behind those of Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Lille is situated on the Deûle River, near France's border with Belgium...
. In June 2004, he joined the prestigious youth academy of Stade Rennais. While playing in the youth system
Youth system
Youth system is a sporting terminology used to refer to a youth investment program within a particular team or league, which develops and nurtures young talent in farm teams, with the vision of using them in the first team if they show enough promise, and to fill up squads numbers in some teams...
, Camara was a part of a slew of youth talent. Among his teammates were Yann M'Vila
Yann M'Vila
Yann M'Vila is a French international footballer who plays for French club Rennes in Ligue 1. He operates as a defensive midfielder and is described by his club as a player who possesses "excellent defensive abilities" and "impressive physical strength"...
, Yacine Brahimi
Yacine Brahimi
Yacine Brahimi is a French football player who currently plays for French club Rennes in Ligue 1. He plays as an attacking midfielder and a winger and is described as a "technically gifted player"...
, captain Samuel Souprayen
Samuel Souprayen
Samuel Souprayen is a French football player of Réunionais heritage who plays for French club Dijon in Ligue 1. He is a former France youth international having earned caps with the under-18, under-19, under-20, and under-21 teams. Souprayen played with the under-20 team at the 2009 Mediterranean...
, Maxime Le Marchand
Maxime Le Marchand
Maxime Le Marchand is a French football player who currently plays for French club Le Havre in Ligue 2.-Early career:...
, and Damien Le Tallec
Damien Le Tallec
Damien Le Tallec is a French football player currently playing for German club Borussia Dortmund in the Fußball-Bundesliga. Damien is the younger brother of former Liverpool and current Auxerre striker Anthony Le Tallec...
. The team effectively lived up to their reputation winning the under-18 championship for the 2006–07 season and the Coupe Gambardella
Coupe Gambardella
The Coupe Gambardella is a French football cup competition held between the under-19s of the French football clubs, organized by the French Football Federation ....
in 2008. On 15 August 2007, Camara, alongside M'Vila and Le Tallec, signed his first professional contract agreeing to a three-year deal. His play during the 2007–08 season was limited playing mainly with the club's Championnat de France amateur team and the under-18 squad. He was subsequently promoted to the senior team for the 2008–09 season. However, he wasn't assigned a number, and again, played on the club's CFA team appearing in 30 matches scoring 4 goals helping the side finish 1st among professional clubs in their group, thus qualifying for the playoffs, where they lost to Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais Reserves and Academy
The Olympique Lyonnais Reserves & Academy are the reserve team and academy of French club Olympique Lyonnais. The reserves squad play in the Championnat de France amateur division, the fourth division of French football and the highest division the team is allowed to participate in. Lyon have won...
in the semi-finals. He made his professional debut for Rennes on the final matchday of the 2008–09 season appearing as a substitute in the club's 0–4 defeat to Marseille
Olympique de Marseille
Olympique de Marseille is a French association football club based in Marseille. Founded in 1899, the club plays in Ligue 1 and have spent most of its history in the top tier of French football. Marseille have been French champions nine times and have won the Coupe de France a record ten times. In...
.
Vannes
On 3 August 2009, Rennes agreed to send the player on loan to Ligue 2Ligue 2
Ligue 2 , formerly known as Division 2, is a French professional football league. The league serves as the second division of French football and is one of two divisions making up the Ligue de Football Professionnel , the other being Ligue 1, the country's top football division...
club Vannes OC
Vannes OC
Vannes Olympique Club is a French association football club based in Vannes. The club was formed relatively late in 1998 as a result of a merger and currently play in Ligue 2, the second level of French football. Vannes plays its home matches at the Stade de la Rabine located within the city...
for the entire season. Camara was given the first-team number 9 shirt and made his debut in the club's opening league match against Metz
FC Metz
Football Club de Metz, commonly referred to as simply Metz , is a French association football club based in Metz. The club was formed in 1932 and has spent most of its history in the Ligue 1, though they currently play in Ligue 2, the second level in French football league system. Metz plays its...
appearing as a substitute. Vannes won the match 3–0.
International career
Though born in GuineaGuinea
Guinea , officially the Republic of Guinea , is a country in West Africa. Formerly known as French Guinea , it is today sometimes called Guinea-Conakry to distinguish it from its neighbour Guinea-Bissau. Guinea is divided into eight administrative regions and subdivided into thirty-three prefectures...
, Camara is a naturalized citizen of France having served five years of residency in the country. He has played for the under-17 and under-18 teams. He was a part of the under-17 squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup
The FIFA U-17 World Cup 2007 was held in the Korea Republic between 18 August and 9 September 2007. For this event, the number of teams had been expanded from 16 to 24, with the top two of each group and the four best third-place teams advancing to the Round of 16...
.