Anderlecht's new era hit by double right‑back injuries

RSC Anderlecht have cancelled their Saturday friendly against Sporting Hasselt after right‑backs Ilay Camara and Lucas Hey each suffered a fracture in the early part of the training week, with Camara’s injury described as ‘quite serious’ and potentially sidelining him for an extended period.

Vitor Bruno was appointed as RSC Anderlecht’s new head coach on Wednesday, together with his staff. He met only a portion of the squad on Friday, prompting the decision to cancel the Saturday friendly.

"Ilay Camara and Lucas Hey suffered a fracture early in the training week and must undergo a medical procedure," the club said. The precise period of unavailability will be clarified after the procedure.

Camara’s injury record in the 2025‑2026 season includes a muscle injury in July, hamstring injuries in August and April, a partial muscle tear in December, and minor injuries in February and May, amounting to six separate setbacks. Those incidents kept him out for 131 days and caused him to miss 33 matches.

Across all competitions Camara has featured in 29 matches for RSC Anderlecht. He played in the Belgian Cup final, which Anderlecht lost 3‑1 after extra time to Union Saint‑Gilloise.

RSC Anderlecht retain options on right‑backs Killian Sardella and Ali Maamar as potential replacements for Camara. Should Camara’s recovery extend, the club may look to recruit a new right‑back during the upcoming summer transfer window.

Jérémie Taraval commented in April that "He is an explosive player with an impressive physique." He added, "It is not his fault, because Ilay takes excellent care of himself and lives for his sport, and he should be able to play matches consecutively without muscle problems."

Before joining Anderlecht, Camara spent the 2024‑2025 season at Standard Liège, where he appeared in 36 matches across all competitions and suffered fewer injuries. His performances in Liège convinced Anderlecht to sign him.