“Every action, he killed the guys”: Yacouba Camara puts out a masterclass against Pau despite cramps

He did his special. “I pick up the ball in the ruck axis and see what happens”. Except that there, he went to score. A thirty-meter race, in the 76th minute, when the cramps and impacts of the match had worn out his already bruised body. “The match was messy, messy. My try revitalized everything a little. I try to do a lot of rucks, there are opportunities around. I'm not used to scoring, it must have been three years (November 6, 2022, in Toulon)it's a small reward”he savored.

Yacouba Camara single-handedly turned the match around. The MHR led throughout, of course, but the converted second line was the trigger for his team to get the offensive bonus. A first this season. A five-point success against a remaining competitor, what's more in an incredible finale, the operation is perfect.

The soldier from Aubervilliers, 30 years old, has done everything in the Section. “Each player has personal objectives. His is to recover at least two balls per match”assures the Montpellier manager, Joan Caudullo. “Yacou” did better than that. Three scratched balls, caramels galore (nine tackles in total) and a final stolen ball into touch (79th) which offers his teammates the opportunity to move up the field and get the bonus. Strong.

“The physiotherapist said to me at one point: 'He has cramps, we're taking him out'. Except that with every action, he was killing the guys. We were right to leave him on the pitch”smiled Caudullo. Indeed, the flair was good. In a rather strange match, which started well but which fizzled out, the international with 17 caps has allowed his club, since Saturday evening, to take a breather.

“I would like him to sign a permanent contract”

His performance deserves a spotlight. She embodies her weight at MHR, who arrived in 2017. “Yacou, I would like him to sign a permanent contract. I would like our team to be represented by a guy like him. He is a great man. He is captain when we are champion. He comes from outside, but today, he is from Montpellier, a bit like Benoît Paillaugue has become. It's good to work with a guy like that.”praises Caudullo.

Despite injuries, notably his cruciate ligament rupture in January 2023, the former Toulouse player remained one of the locker room executives. In May 2023, while the team was going in circles after a pitiful home defeat against Brive (26-27), a crisis meeting took place in the locker room. Strong words are said, causing some tension. Camara stood up, spoke, and silenced everyone. “It was huge”a member of the staff told us at the time.

When Mohamed Haouas faced justice, he was one of his first supporters. For Bastien Chalureau, he had written a letter to the president and the prosecutor to defend his teammate.

Every day, on or off the field, Captain Yacou commands a little more respect.