Saudi Premier League Al Taawoun’s Gambian striker Musa Barrow hopes to get to know better Al Hilal’s Senegalese defender Kalidou Koulibaly in the coming months. Competitors during their Italian Serie A old days with Bologna and Napoli, the duo are drawn in the same group at the African Cup of Nations, which will be held in Ivory Coast in early 2024.

And while their two clubs will also meet in the quarter-finals of the Saudi King’s Cup next month, the immediate priority is Friday’s Saudi Pro League encounter.

Al Taawoun, a team from the northern city of Buraydah, is giving a great performance and is the surprise of this season.

While Al Hilal spent tens of millions on signing stars such as Neymar, Aleksandar Mitrovic, Ruben Neves and Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, as well as Koulibaly, Al Taawoun was much more modest, with the €8 million spent on Barrow being its most expensive outlay. . .

Third in the table, Al Taawoun travel to King Fahd International Stadium in Riyadh to take on undefeated table leaders Al Hilal.

“I played against Koulibaly for Bologna against Napoli,” Barrow said. “Is not easy. He is a strong defender. But I am looking forward to take on him”, Musa Barrow said.

With Al Taawoun, widely praised for his style of play, and Gambia, Barrow will be in the least desirable team against Al Hilal and Senegal. That doesn’t worry him.

“Al Hilal will try to hit the ball and keep it, but we are quick on the counterattack, so we try to be patient, play compactly and play our football,” Barrow said. “We are going to have opportunities, Inshallah. We know that they are a big team and we respect big teams, but we do not show weaknesses and we will try to play and have confidence to win the game,” Barrow added.

Taawoun has made great strides under Pericles Chamusca, finishing fifth last season. The most notable achievements of this campaign include a victory over Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr and a point against Karim Benzema’s Al Ittihad.

Kalidou Koulibaly is Musa Barrow’s club and country rival. Courtesy of the Pro Saudi League

“We are confident that we can play our football the same way we played against Ittihad,” Barrow, who spent three seasons at Atalanta and four with Bologna in Italy, he said ahead of the clash with Al Hilal.

With four goals in nine appearances in all competitions, Barrow, who plays predominantly on the left in a three-pronged attack but can also move to the right, is enjoying his football.

“I think there’s a good mix between the players that played together last year and players like me that came in,” Barrow said. “We have a great midfield and a great connection. We try to play as a team. There is no star on this team. We all play together and when we lose the ball, we press hard. We play football and we have our own identity: we play football in every game. “We seek to create spaces and opportunities in each game.”

Musa Barrow joined Al Taawoun after two seasons at Bologna in Serie A. Getty Images

The new year brings new opportunities for Barrow at the African Cup of Nations. Gambia surprised many by reaching the quarterfinals of the 2021 tournament. Guinea and Cameroon (the team that defeated Gambia in that phase) make up Group C this time along with Koulibaly’s Senegal.

“I’m looking forward to it,” Barrow said. “The last time we went to the African Cup we were not the favorites. First we have Senegal, then we will play against Guinea and then against Cameroon.

“Last time we lost against Cameroon, so we will return for revenge. It is not an easy group. We are the least favorite of the group, but I have the feeling that we are going to do something good.”