From the humblest neighborhood of Sabadell, on the right wing of Barça

BarcelonaHaving turned 19 on December 11th, Aïcha Camara (Sabadell, 2006) has become a key player for Pere Romeu's Barça. The defender has only missed four matches in her first season in the top flight and has featured in the last ten games across La Liga and the Champions League. Born in Can Puiggener, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Sabadell, the footballer has capitalized on injuries and a relatively thin squad to secure a place in the first team. Through hard work and consistency, she not only plays for the best team in Liga F, but also indirectly puts a vulnerable urban area on the map. just as Lamine Yamal does with Rocafonda. "Aïcha is a hard-working, family-oriented, and very approachable person," sources at the Joan Gamper Training Ground say about the Barça defender, who could have another opportunity to shine in Europe this Wednesday in the match against Paris FC (9 p.m., TV3 and Disney Plus).

After debuting in La Liga on August 30 against Alhama (8-0), Aïcha has continued to break barriers. Last season she already played minutes in the Copa Catalunya semifinals, but this season she is establishing herself with a first-team contract alongside Clara Serrajordi. A week ago he started for the first time in the Champions League, always performing well."Her physique sets her apart; she has incredible abilities," say people who have worked with her. Despite this being her first season at the top level, her emergence hasn't surprised anyone. Pere Romeu highlights her constant desire to improve: "She has an incredible ability to listen. When you ask her to do something, she asks why, and when she understands, she does it and executes it very, very well."

This drive to never stop improving comes precisely from her family. Can Puiggener, where Aïcha grew up with her three siblings, is a working-class neighborhood. "It's a very welcoming multicultural place, with people from different backgrounds and cultures," notes Laura Reyes, councilor for district 7 of Sabadell, to which Can Puiggener belongs. During the 1950s and 60s, the district welcomed a significant influx of immigrants, a phenomenon that is currently being repeated. Staying grounded is one of the keys to success at the elite level, and Aïcha is well aware of this. "She still lives here with her mother, who also leads one of the district's organizations, the Association of African Women of Catalonia, and works to improve it," Reyes points out. Her mother is Senegalese, and her father is Guinean. According to data from Idescat (2022), Can Puiggener is the neighborhood with the lowest average income per person in Sabadell, at 9,218 euros, about 1,500 less than the second lowest, Campoamor - Espronceda. "There are organizations here that want to help the neighborhood grow, and many activities take place," such as the tribute to the player after winning the Under-19 European Championship, explains Reyes. In a district where 53% of the young population, in 2022, did not have post-compulsory education, a female footballer reaching the First Division is a huge achievement. "We've lived alongside her for many years," says the Sabadell councilwoman.

A key versatility in women's football

Despite playing as a full-back – especially due to the lack of a backup for Ona Batlle – she has also played center-back in the youth ranks, particularly when defending against a physically imposing striker. However, her impressive stamina makes her more effective on the wing, where she has featured with the first team. "When she joins the attack, she's quite decisive; she's a player with a great ability to make good decisions, and that's very difficult to achieve in football," Romeu pointed out. In fact, Aïcha can boast of having won the U-19 European Championship twice with the Spanish national team playing center-back and of having debuted in La Liga and the Champions League as a full-back. This versatility will serve her well in her quest for success at Barça.

The club maintains that she has the potential to establish herself, but it will depend on many factors. "It's common for it to be difficult at the beginning because they experience situations they aren't used to, since they play fewer minutes and frequently suffer more injuries as part of the adaptation process to the elite level." Another important factor is keeping her feet on the ground and ensuring that the club and her support system provide her with the necessary tools to be prepared. Aïcha Camara seems to meet both requirements: a humble family that instills in her the values necessary to continue growing. Time will tell if she succeeds wearing the Barça colors or not.