“We go to the CAN in Morocco to win!”

Foot Mercato: Mohamed, you’ve been in Qatar for a year. What is your feeling about your experience there?

Mohamed Camara: Everything is going well, life is calm, the championship is also pleasant. I thank the good Lord, everything is going very well in Qatar.

FM: Why did you choose to join Qatar rather than join another European championship for example?

MC : I wanted to go to a place where I could well practice my religion. Where I would be free to do what I want in my religion. Al-Sadd, what they offered me, I liked it directly. It is not only an Islamic country, but I liked the sports project too. This is why I made this choice rather than going elsewhere in Europe, whether in England, Germany, Spain. I refused all this to come here.

“The Qatari championship develops enormously”

FM: What is your look at the level of competitiveness there is in Qatar?

MC : The championship here is a championship that remains tactical and physical. It requires large physical skills too. You can say that all players run here. In France, which I did not do, I do it here. Because you have to run for others too.

FM: What are the big differences between Qatar and France?

MC : Even if it is a slightly physical championship, but not at the same level as France. Because France, there are many good clubs, there are several good players. The championship, the level, is not exactly the same level all the same. But the Qatari championship develops enormously. They bring a lot of players, a lot of good players too. They do good things to put players in the best conditions.

FM: You also played the Asian Champions League. What opinion do you have on the level of this competition?

I can say that the level is a little closer to Europe. Because, if we talk about the Asian Champions League, there are several kinds of players. There are the players who come from Asia, Japan, all that. But still, it’s not like the level of the European Champions League. But despite everything, it’s a little closer. There are very good players, a lot of tactics.

FM: You could also join Saudi Arabia as many players. Why did you choose Qatar instead?

MC : There were proposals. But as I told you, I followed my destiny. It was in Qatar. I also spoke with the club president. All I had offered me, I really liked it. In Qatar too, the city is not too small, it is not too large. The city of Doha is calm. I really enjoyed it. It’s not like Saudi Arabia. It looks a bit like Monaco for that. There is a lot of security too.

FM: Which player who plays Qatar could evolve in Europe according to you?

MC : I can say that there are a lot of good players here, in terms of individual quality. I can also say, I currently play with our captain, Akram Afif. If he were in Europe, we would have heard of him. It is really good. There are a lot of players who are playing in our team. There are a lot of good players who are playing Al-Duhail. There are 3-4 players who are good there.

FM: You are only 25 years old at present. Can a return to Europe, in a few years, interest you?

MC : Currently, I know that a return to Europe, that doesn’t interest me too much. We don’t know what’s going to happen. Because we don’t have that in our hands. The future is not in our hands. The return to Europe is not interested in me currently. But we will see what will happen in the next 2-3 years.

“We go to Morocco to win the CAN”

FM: We’re going to talk a bit about you with Mali too. You count 31 selections and you have a brilliant CV. What is your role in the selection of Mali?

MC : I did all the categories of young people. In all categories, I was captain. I represent a lot for our Mali, for my nation. I play a big role. Even if I don’t wear the armband in the first team, I play a big role in the team. In terms of leadership, in terms of capacity to help the coach. I want to help the coach achieve his goals. In Africa, you have to delegate certain things to your players because we understand each other better between us. It is my nature to be a leader. Even outside the field, I’m like that.

FM: During the last CAN, you were eliminated in the quarterfinals. What is Mali’s goal for this CAN?

MC : The goal is clear. Because Mali has never won the CAN so far. Last year, it was unhappy. Everyone saw, we could win it. But God decided differently for us. Now the CAN that will happen, the goal is clear. We go to Morocco to win the CAN. If we don’t get there, it’s something else. All the people of Mali are waiting for this trophy for the first time, so we’re going to do everything to go to win.

FM: Mali is in the Morocco group, favorite and host countries. How are you going to approach this big meeting?

MC : I am with the Moroccans here, in the team, we talk about it between us. If you play against Mali, you have to expect a lot. But we’ll see. Because we are talking, we talk. But the last thing is God who decides. But we’ll see. Mali-Morocco, it will be a good match.

FM: Mali has a good generation. What is your look at the pool available to the selection currently?

MC : We all were together at the Jean-Marc Guillou academy. The generation that has passed, the Hamari Traoré, which are again there. These are our big brothers, Hamari (Traoré), Diadié (Samassekou). We were all together at the Academy. They were the ones who were our big brothers. Now we still found ourselves in the national team. This is an advantage for us. Because we already have our big brothers who were there. They know a lot of cogs. They really helped us. So it is an opportunity to make history. If this generation passes without doing something, it would be regrettable for us.

FM: Which Malian player impresses you most today?

MC : I want to talk about the young people who are going up. But I only wish them happiness. Because they are young people. In terms of progression, we must help them. I can say Nene Dorgeles and Kamory Doumbia. These are the two best Malian players in Europe currently.

FM: To mark history, there is the CAN, which can also be something big, but there is also also a qualification for the World Cup. You did not go far in 2022, what memories do you keep from this adventure?

MC : I only knew the playoffs at the World Cup once. We made the playoffs, six games, five wins and a draw. The last two games against Tunisia, we won, we are at the World Cup. We lose 1-0 in Mali, we mark against our camp. That day was unforgettable for me. There are two things in my career that I will not forget. This match, which we lost against Tunisia, when Tunisia, without lacking respect, did not deserve to go to the World Cup in front of us. And then, the Côte d’Ivoire match also at the last CAN. Losing the last minute like that … No, both games is unforgettable for me.

FM: Mali is in a complicated group for its qualification for the next World Cup. Do you think you are able to get the qualification despite your slight delay?

MC : We’re going to try. It’s not over yet. Ghana is first with 6 points ahead of us. So we’re going to try to get them. Soon there is the international break. There are two important games for us. We’re going to do everything to win these two games. We will see afterwards.

“Paul Pogba is my idol”

FM: Past failures will surely allow you to spend a course in the coming years …

MC : It’s a good lesson for all of us. If you have not managed to do something, that means you have to learn a lot to succeed in the days to come. This is a motivation for us. We did not succeed, we learned a lot of things. We will work harder to succeed next time.

FM: We’re going to come back to Monaco. What memory do you have of this experience?

MC : I had a good time in Monaco, good years. It was good, people welcomed me. Everything went well, there was no problem at all. Really, I want to thank everyone. There was no problem, I spent good years too with the team. But afterwards, there are things that have arrived. So, I decided to leave for the good of everyone.

FM: How do you judge their progression since your departure?

MC : I watch all the matches of Monaco. I can say they are progressing. I enjoyed the mentality too much that coach Hütter brings. A lot of aggressiveness. Lots of offensive going. I think it’s new in France. I hope they will have a very good season. Why not be champion, even!

FM: What do you think of the arrival of Paul Pogba in Monaco?

MC : Paul Pogba… For me, this is my idol. Me, I have it … When I was young, I was in Mali, I had not signed a professional contract, that Pogba was doing a lot of beautiful things in football. He signed a new contract. He is in a good club. I think he will help a lot. When he will find his physical level, he will help Monaco a lot. For me, it’s the top level.