Nearly five months after the fact, Anderlecht defender Ilay Camara has spoken publicly about his withdrawal from the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN). The 22-year-old described the decision as a difficult moment in his career.
Camara, who was called up to the Senegal squad for the tournament, revealed that he received significant support from senior teammates Sadio Mané and Cheikhou Kouyaté during this period. 'I talked a lot about it with Sadio Mané and Cheikhou Kouyaté,' Camara said in an interview.
The exact reason for his withdrawal was not specified in the available sources, but Camara emphasized the emotional challenge of missing the continental competition. The 2025 CAN was held in Morocco from December 2025 to January 2026, with Senegal reaching the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Egypt.
Camara, who plays for Belgian club RSC Anderlecht, has been capped at youth level for Senegal but is yet to make his senior debut. His absence from the tournament was a setback in his international career progression.
