# Mohamed Camara (footballer, born January 2000)

Mohamed Camara (born 6 January 2000) is a Malian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Qatar Stars League club Al Sadd and the Mali national team.

## Club career

Camara started his career at Real Bamako before joining Red Bull Salzburg on five-year deal in 2018.
On 8 January 2019, he was loaned to TSV Hartberg for the rest of the season.
On 18 February 2021, Camara was suspended for three months of all club and international football activities by UEFA, following a doping investigation conducted by UEFA in which Camara tested positive after taking an altitude sickness medicine prescribed by the Malian National Team Doctor.
On 14 August 2022, Monaco announced that Camara signed a five-year contract with the club.
On 30 July 2024, Camara signed a five-year contract with Qatari side Al Sadd.

## International career

Camara debuted for the Mali national team in a 2–1 friendly loss to South Africa on 13 October 2019.
In December 2021, Camara was selected by coach Mohamed Magassouba to participate in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
On January 2, 2024, he was selected from the list of 27 Malian players selected by Éric Chelle to compete in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

## Controversy

On 19 May 2024, the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) celebrated the International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia and Transphobia. During this event, Camara covered the campaign logo on his jersey, which featured the word 'Homophobie', with a red cross using two pieces of white tape. He also removed the LFP logo in rainbow colors on the sleeves with a black tape. Before the event, he refused to pose for the pre-match group photo in which the football players posed in front of the campaign logo. The French Minister of Equal Opportunities and French Sports Minister condemned his actions. The sports minister called his actions "unacceptable behavior" and asked for the "strongest sanctions" against Camara. In reference to his actions, the minister of equality tweeted, "Homophobia is not an opinion, it's a crime. And homophobia kills. There must be strict punishment for Mohamed Camara." The LFP summoned Camara for a disciplinary hearing. Monaco's general manager Thiago Scuro apologized and cited religious reasons for the actions of Camara, a Muslim. However, the Malian Football Federation issued a support letter for his actions, citing "fundamental rights". On 30 May 2024, the LFP suspended Camara for four matches.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 7 March 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National cup | National cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| FC Liefering | 2017–18 | 2. Liga | 15 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 1 |
| FC Liefering | 2018–19 | 2. Liga | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 2 |
| FC Liefering | 2019–20 | 2. Liga | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 1 |
| FC Liefering | Total | Total | 35 | 4 | — | — | — | — | 35 | 4 |
| TSV Hartberg (loan) | 2018–19 | Austrian Bundesliga | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2019–20 | Austrian Bundesliga | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2020–21 | Austrian Bundesliga | 15 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 26 | 2 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 2021–22 | Austrian Bundesliga | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Red Bull Salzburg | Total | Total | 53 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 19 | 0 | 79 | 4 |
| Monaco | 2022–23 | Ligue 1 | 29 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Monaco | 2023–24 | Ligue 1 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Monaco | Total | Total | 49 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 57 | 1 |
| Al Sadd | 2024–25 | Qatar Stars League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 157 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 198 | 9 |
* ↑ Includes Austrian Cup, Coupe de France, Qatar Cup
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League
* 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Appearances in AFC Champions League Elite

### International

    As of match played 15 November 2024
Appearances and goals by national team and year :
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
| Mali | 2019 | 2 | 1 |
| Mali | 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| Mali | 2021 | 6 | 0 |
| Mali | 2022 | 6 | 2 |
| Mali | 2023 | 6 | 0 |
| Mali | 2024 | 8 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 30 | 3 |
    Scores and results list Mali's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Mohamed Camara :
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 17 November 2019 | Stade Omnisports, N'Djamena, Chad | Chad | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 2 | 4 June 2022 | Stade du 26 Mars, Bamako, Mali | Congo | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |
| 3 | 9 June 2022 | St. Mary's Stadium-Kitende, Entebbe, Uganda | South Sudan | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification |

## Honours

Red Bull Salzburg
* Austrian Bundesliga: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
* Austrian Cup: 2019–20, 2020–21, 2021–22
Mali U17
* Africa U-17 Cup of Nations: 2017
Mali U20
* Africa U-20 Cup of Nations: 2019

### Individual

* Austrian Bundesliga Team of the Year: 2021–22