Anderlecht’s Camara injury adds to 33-match absence
RSC Anderlecht resumed training under new head coach Vitor Bruno, only to see right‑back Ilay Camara suffer a ‘quite serious’ injury, 33 matches, totaling 131 days out, and his latest setback could force Anderlecht to consider a summer signing.
Anderlecht has not released an official statement on Camara’s condition, and the club is expected to provide further details soon. The right‑back’s recent injury adds to a pattern that began in July 2025 with a muscle strain, followed by two hamstring problems, a partial muscle tear, and two minor knocks, amounting to 131 days on the sidelines.
Across all competitions Camara has featured in 29 matches this season. He played in the Belgian Cup final, where Anderlecht were beaten 3‑1 after extra time by Union Saint‑Gilloise.
Anderlecht can call on Killian Sardella or Ali Maamar to cover the right‑back position. Both players have existing options to step in, but a prolonged absence of Camara would still represent a serious setback for the club.
Former Anderlecht midfielder Jérémie Taraval addressed the issue publicly. He stated: “Het is een explosieve speler met een indrukwekkend fysiek. Het is niet zijn fout, want Ilay zorgt uitstekend voor zichzelf en leeft voor zijn sport. Hij zou wedstrijden na elkaar moeten kunnen spelen zonder spierproblemen.”
Before joining Anderlecht, Camara spent the 2024‑2025 season with Standard Liège, where he suffered far fewer injuries. He made 36 appearances for the Liège side before moving to the Brussels rivals.
Overall, Camara has endured six distinct injuries since July 2025, resulting in 131 days out and 33 missed matches. The club’s medical staff will need to assess whether his injury pattern is due to bad luck or underlying factors.