Celebrating players with African heritage at EURO 2024

The UEFA EUROs traditionally showcase classic European rivalries, a celebration of the beautiful game on the continent. While its core remains a European tournament where nations battle for continental glory, the modern Euros paint a more multicultural picture. Players from a diverse range of nationalities grace the pitch, reflecting the globalised nature of football.

This year’s edition was no exception, with over 50 footballers boasting African heritage proudly representing their adopted European nations. This influx of talent goes beyond mere numbers. These players bring a unique blend of skill, flair, and athleticism, enriching the tactical tapestry of the EUROs.
From dynamic attackers to imposing defenders, they have become integral parts of their national teams’ quest for European glory.

Shining stars of African descent

Here’s a look at some of the players with African heritage who illuminated this year’s football extravaganza:

• Lamine Yamal
• Country: Spain
• African roots: Yamal could have represented either Morocco or Equatorial Guinea, his parents’ birth countries, but he chose Spain, his birth country, which quickly secured his commitment as soon as he burst onto the scene with La Furia Roja.

The teenage sensation has dominated headlines with his outstanding performances for La Roja at this year’s EUROs. The winger became the youngest player (16 years and 338 days) ever to start a European Championship match and subsequently became the youngest player to provide an assist in the competition, setting up Dani Carvajal for Spain’s third goal of their match in their game against Croatia in the group stages.

Yamal was electric all tournament and carried on his fine form in Spain’s semifinal game against France with arguably the goal of the tournament and a Man of the Match performance. Spain went on to win the EUROs, making Yamal the youngest player ever to win the EUROs.

• Jamal Musiala
• Country: Germany
• African roots: Musiala could have played for England, Nigeria, Poland, or Germany. His father is British-Nigerian, while his mother is German with Polish roots.

The midfielder chose to represent Germany, his birth country, in 2021, dashing Nigeria’s slim hopes. Since then, records have tumbled for him. The Bayern Munich attacker scored two goals at this year’s EUROs and played a crucial part in Germany reaching the quarter-finals of the tournament.

• Eduardo Camavinga
• Country: France
• African roots: Born in a refugee camp in Angola to a Congolese-Angolan father and a Congolese mother, Eduardo moved to France aged two.

The dynamic midfielder was called up to the French national team in August 2020 and made his debut in September 2020, becoming France’s youngest debutant in over a century. The versatile midfielder has been a valuable addition to the side. Having completed club football he played his part in France reaching the semifinals of this year’s EUROs.

• Kylian Mbappe
• Country: France
• African roots: Mbappe could have represented his father’s birth country, Cameroon, or Algeria through his maternal roots, but chose France.

Mbappe secured the World Cup trophy in 2018, playing a starring role for France and was given the Young Player of the Tournament award. However, he could have represented his father’s birth country, , but chose France. Narrowly denied a second World Cup by Argentina in 2022, he is now captain of Les Bleus and led his country to a semifinal at this year’s European Championship.

• Jeremy Doku
• Country: Belgium
• African roots: Doku was born in Belgium to Ghanaian parents. He could have represented Ghana but chose Belgium.

The Manchester City winger started brightly with the English club after joining from Rennes. He was a constant menace to Premier League defenders as they often struggled to deal with his explosiveness and silky feet.

Doku was born in Belgium to Ghanaian parents. He could have represented Ghana but chose Belgium. It would have been exciting to have him and Mo Kudus on opposite flanks for The Black Stars. His pace and trickery was vital for the Belgian side in breaking down defences and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

• Jeremie Frimpong
• Country: Netherlands
• African roots: With Ghanaian roots, Frimpong could have also represented England. Though courted by the Ghanaian FA for years, Frimpong ultimately chose to represent the Netherlands, his birth country.

The marauding right wing-back made headlines this season for his heroics with Bayer Leverkusen, helping them achieve an unbeaten domestic double. With Ghanaian roots, he could have also represented England. Though courted by the Ghanaian FA for years, Frimpong ultimately chose to represent the Netherlands, his birth country. He expressed his love for Ghana but was delighted to make his maiden debut in an international tournament for The Oranje, having failed to make an appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

• Nuno Mendes
• Country: Portugal
• African roots: Despite his strong Angolan roots, Mendes opted to represent Portugal on the international stage.

Highly rated since his time with Sporting CP, Mendes has been a constant presence in the Portuguese national team for a while now. He was born in Sintra, a Portuguese-Angolan community in Lisbon. Despite his strong Angolan roots, he opted to represent Portugal on the international stage.

A talented football star, he excels with the ball at his feet although questions are asked from time to time about his defensive abilities. He failed to play a major role at EURO 2020 and at the 2022 World Cup but made his mark in this year’s European Championship for Portugal.

• Yussuf Poulsen
• Country: Denmark
• African roots: Born to a Tanzanian father and a Danish mother, the Danish striker chose to represent Denmark after being snubbed by Tanzania.

With over 70 caps, he has represented Denmark at the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups and UEFA EURO 2020, with the Danish side famously reaching the semifinals of the competition. He also competed at this year’s EUROs.

• Noah Okafor
• Country: Switzerland
• African roots: The AC Milan attacker was born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother but chose to represent Switzerland.

Representing the Swiss internationally at the youth levels, he continued to tread that same path when he turned professional. The AC Milan attacker was born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother. He debuted in the 2019 UEFA Nations League and helped them secure qualification for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

• Bukayo Saka
• Country: England
• African roots: Saka had the option to represent Nigeria, but instead chose to play for England, his birth country.

Born in England to Yoruba parents, Saka represented England at youth level and proceeded to do the same in his senior career. It was simply mission impossible for the Nigerian Football Federation to convince him to represent The Super Eagles.

The winger has been a regular presence in the national team since making his debut for the Three Lions, often seen hugging the touchline on the right flank

• Danilo Pereira
• Country: Portugal
• African roots: Pereira was born in Guinea Bissau, and he moved to Lisbon, Portugal at the age of five with his mother, a nurse in search of better living conditions for her family.

To fulfil his childhood dream, Pereira opted to represent Portugal on the international stage, bagging winner’s medals in UEFA EURO 2016 and the Nations League 2019. The defensive midfielder also featured for the Portuguese national team in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, EURO 2020, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

• Stephan El Shaarawy
• Country: Italy
• African roots: The AS Roma winger was born in Italy to an Egyptian father and a Swiss-Italian mother. He could have played for either country but chose to represent Italy, his birth country.

A controversial statement by former Egyptian coach Hassan Shehata indicated his objection to calling up El Sharawy to the Egypt national team but the winger subsequently indicated that his preference was to represent the Azurri on the international stage. He is nicknamed Il Faraone (The Pharaoh) for his Egyptian roots.

• Amadou Onana
• Country: Belgium
• African roots: The midfielder had a plethora of countries to choose from for his international career. Eventually, he settled for Belgium. Born in Senegal to a Cameroonian father and a Senegalese mother, he could have represented either nation.

He moved to Belgium at the age of 11 and opted to represent them on the international stage.
He has represented Belgium at the UEFA NATIONS league and at the 2022 World Cup.

• Joe Gomez
• Country: England
• African roots: Joe Gomez was born in Catford, England to a Gambian father and an English mother. He could have played for either country, but Gambia’s decision to snub Gomez allowed the defender to make an easy choice and choose his birth country of England.

The stalwart defender played across several positions for Liverpool FC last season and his performances earned him a recall to the England squad for Euro 2024.

The dominant centre-back was strongly interested in representing The Scorpions of Gambia on the international stage, but a reported snub by the Gambian FA allowed him to turn his attention to The Three Lions.

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