Bouly Sambou and Wydad, it matches. In Casablanca, Morocco, the 24-year-old Senegalese striker quickly found his bearings. Author of 18 goals in 32 matches in all competitions, the former resident of ASC Jaraaf, who is playing this Sunday the first leg of the CAF Champions League against Al Ahly (Egypt), was obviously no stranger to the good run of his team. What to consider a selection with the A?
“Of course, I’m thinking of the national team. Me, I try to do my job and catch the eye of the coach. I’m waiting for my chance to do my best to wet the national jersey. I strongly believe that one day, I will be in selection, it is my biggest dream” declared the main interested party during a recent interview granted to the RFI. Words and ambition that are anything but illegitimate: at 24, the native of Bignona (Senegal) is found in the form of his life. And the top scorer of Botola Pro (12 goals) is undoubtedly at the moment at the gates of the group ofAliou Cisse.
Already called up with the A ‘team with which he has 6 caps for 1 goal, he finished third in the 2022 COSAFA Cup before taking part in the playoffs for the CHAN 2022a tournament won by his teammates but which he unfortunately could not play following his transfer to Morocco in the summer of 2022. On this subject, Sambou declares: “I am proud to have been among those who qualified the team for CHAN by breaking the curse against Guinea in qualifying. My friends continued the work and were African champions, and I too consider myself an African champion.”
The song of Wydad AC supporters for Junior Bouly Sambou 🇸🇳🎶 pic.twitter.com/HnEysnALV2
— 𝗝𝗼𝘂𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗲́𝗻𝗲́𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗶𝘀 🇸🇳 (@JoueursSN) May 3, 2023
A late outbreak
As sparkling as it is with the Wydad Casablanca this season, Bouly Sambou remained a relatively anonymous player before his arrival in Morocco. Pure product of EJ Fatick, he will then make the heyday of Teungueth (13 games, 7 goals) and ASC Jaraaf (29 games, 17 goals) in Senegalese Ligue 1. Despite more than respectable statistics, playing in the local championship, which received little media coverage, kept him in the shadows despite his obvious talent. But when he was already 23, his goalscoring talent ended up attracting the sirens of more media clubs.
If he could potentially have joined a European team, he finally opted for Wydad, a very popular club at continental level. On this subject, the striker says: “I just think it was my destiny. I had other proposals, it’s true, but I really favored the sporting aspect first. Wydad is a tenor in the Moroccan championship, he was going to play the Champions League, the Club Super Cup, the Arab Cup and play in the Club World Cup. For me, it was important to evolve in a competitive team.” And in view of his breathtaking season, which he will try to punctuate brilliantly by winning the African Champions Leaguewe will not go too far in saying that he made the right career choice.