EURO 2024 is underway! The European Championship is one of the oldest and most popular football competitions globally. While the big names are the usual favorites, there will naturally be some dark horses and plenty of surprises in the competition.
Many players at the competition have multiple nationalities, not just the European nationality that makes them eligible for the tournament. Over 50 players of African descent are participating, highlighting football’s universal appeal. The French squad is a prominent example, with many players of African heritage. After France won the 2018 World Cup, there was a popular joke that the victory was for Africa, given the strong African roots of many squad members. Let’s take a look at 15 players with African heritage in this year’s competition.
LAMINE YAMAL
The teenage sensation has dominated headlines with his stellar performances on the pitch. It’s hard to believe he is just 16 years old when he has the ball at his feet. The winger became the youngest player (16 years and 338 days) to ever start a European Championship match on Saturday. Subsequently, he became the youngest player to provide an assist in the competition, setting up Dani Carvajal for Spain’s third goal of the match. 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 The Blaugranas.
JAMAL MUSIALA
Jamal Musiala has a rich heritage. The diminutive magician 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 Nigerians’ slim hopes. Since then, records have tumbled for him. He scored in his first European Championship match for Germany against Scotland, a magical night for the young attacker. A sublime performance from the Bayern Munich star, with no misplaced passes and five successful take-ons. His performances could be pivotal in determining how far the host nation goes in EURO 2024.
EDUARDO CAMAVINGA
Eduardo Camavinga moved to France at the age of two. Born in a refugee camp in Angola to a Congolese-Angolan father and a Congolese mother, he 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 now aims to add the European Championship to his trophy cabinet this Euro 2024.
KYLIAN MBAPPE
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, Cameroon, or Algeria through his maternal roots, but chose France. Narrowly denied a second World Cup by Argentina in 2022, he is now captain of Les Bleus and aims to lead his country to European Championship glory for the first time since 2000.
JEREMY DOKU
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 are going to be vital for the Belgian side in breaking down defenses and creating goal-scoring opportunities.
JEREMIE FRIMPONG
The marauding right wing-back has 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 expresses love for Ghana but aims to play a starring role in his maiden international tournament for The Oranje, having failed to make an appearance in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
NUNO MENDES
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 he aims to make his mark in this year’s European Championship for A Selecao Das Quinas.
YUSSUF POULSEN
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 semi finals of the competition.
He came on as a substitute in their opening EURO 2024 match against Slovenia.
NOAH OKAFOR
Okafor happens to be a very prominent name in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. It’s not hard to imagine the surprise of Nigerians at seeing an Okafor representing Switzerland at the Euros. 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
You don’t need to be a genius to understand his Nigerian roots, as his name simply gives him away. Born in England to Yoruba parents, he represented England at the youth levels 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. He is up and running in this year’s tournament, providing an assist to Jude Bellingham to grab England’s lone goal in their opening match victory over Serbia.
DANILO PEREIRA
Danilo 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 fulfill his childhood dream, he opted to represent Portugal on the international stage, bagging winner’s medals in UEFA EURO 2016 & Nations League 2019. The defensive midfielder cum centre back also featured for the Portuguese national team in the FIFA Confederations Cup 2017, EURO 2020, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He missed the 2018 FIFA World Cup due to injury. The Portuguese are favourites to win the tournament and it remains to be seen just how far they’ll go.
KWADWO ANTWI DUAH
Kwadwo Duah was among the goals as Switzerland strolled to a 3:1 opening match victory against Hungary in the 2024 European Championship. He bagged his maiden international goal in his 2nd appearance for the Swiss side. He became one of three players to find the back of the net on their European Championship debut for the Swiss national team.
The London born striker is of Ghanaian descent and he moved to Switzerland at a young age. He opted to represent the Swiss side on the international stage.
STEPHAN EL SHAARAWY
The AS Roma winger was born in Italy to an Egyptian father and a Swiss Italian mother.
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. An unused substitute in Italy’s opening EURO 2024 match, it remains to be seen how much of a role he will play in this year’s tournament.
AMADOU ONANA
The Everton midfielder had a plethora of countries to choose from for his international career. Eventually, he settled for the Belgian Red Devils
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
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.
Joe Gomez was born in Catford, England to a Gambian father and an English mother. 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. The Gambia FA reportedly refused to guarantee an insurance for the defender, allowing him to represent his birth country. His experience and versatility could be vital to England in this tournament.