Former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba expressed his satisfaction with his stint at the City Ground in an interview with L’Equipe. The 29-year-old, who joined the Tricky Trees from Caen in 2019, spent three years with the club before heading back to his homeland to join RC Lens in 2022. Nottingham Forest, under Steve Cooper’s management, secured promotion to the Premier League last year by defeating Huddersfield Town in the Championship play-off final. This match marked Samba’s final appearance for Nottingham Forest.
In a detailed interview with L’Equipe ahead of RC Lens’ upcoming Champions League match against Arsenal at the Emirates on Wednesday, Samba discussed his decision to join Nottingham Forest when they were in the Championship. Despite receiving offers from Ligue 1 clubs after his season with Caen, Samba was drawn to the challenge of starting afresh in a new environment. Reflecting on the decision, Samba said, “There was a lot of reflection with those around me, my agent. And, with my wife, we thought, why not start from scratch? That’s what attracted me. And it was really my wife who made me make this decision.”
During his tenure at Nottingham Forest, Samba kept 45 clean sheets in 133 games, conceding 124 goals. One of the standout moments was his crucial role in the play-off semi-final against Sheffield United in 2022, where he saved three penalties in the shootout. When asked if this was the most significant moment in his career, Samba replied, “Unquestionably. When I arrive in England, I tell the guys: we’re going to go up.”
Samba recalled a conversation with Joe Worrall, the current captain, where he expressed his determination to break the promotion curse that loomed over the club. Samba’s confidence and commitment were evident in the play-off match, and he explained, “I always had this thing in the back of my mind, I wanted to experience something strong. This is the reason why in this match, I transcended myself. I had spoken, I had to take responsibility.”
Despite achieving promotion with Nottingham Forest, Samba surprised many by leaving the club for Lens in 2022. Addressing his departure, Samba revealed that teammates were taken aback, citing the strong connection he had with the city and the fans. However, he explained, “I left France with a little taste of unfinished business, I wanted to show, I felt ready to return to the country. The relationship with Franck Haise and Florent Ghisolfi (former sporting director) also played a role.”
