Belgium Loses Another Dual National as Ilay Camara Chooses Senegal

Belgium’s ongoing battle to keep its dual national players has taken another hit, as Standard de Liege right back Ilay Camara's opted to represent Senegal internationally.

A Growing Trend of Talent Departures

Camara follows in the footsteps of Konstantinos Karetsas (Greece) & Chemsdine Talbi (Morocco) joining list of young stars choosing their ancestral roots over Belgium. The decision, 1st reported by Walfoot was influenced by Camara’s strong attachment to Senegal and the legacy of his father, former footballer Sadio Camara.

A Decision from the Heart

Having previously played for Belgium’s U15 & U16 teams, Camara was recently approached by Senegal’s coaching staff. Reports told that this choice wasn't about opportunity but deep personal connection.

A Major Blow for Belgium

Belgium’s struggle to retain dual national talent has led to internal restructuring. Following recent exits, the belgian FA dismissed its talent manager, Kevin Vermeulen who was responsible for handling these cases. Vincent Mannaert, Belgium’s technical director, has since vowed to take firmer stance, only selecting players fully committed to representing Belgium.

Meanwhile, Camara's set to begin his journey with Senegal as they prepare for Afcon 2025 and the 2026 world cup qualifiers.

Khaled Hegazy |

Editorar, en

Journaliste sportif spécialisé dans la couverture du football et la création de contenu numérique, alliant expérience éditoriale et expertise des médias sociaux.