The Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) features a mix of talent, including players like Ademola Lookman, who, despite his Nigerian heritage, was born and raised in England.
This is a trend in African football. Prominent players like Senegal’s captain Kalidou Koulibaly and Ivory Coast’s Sebastien Haller were both born in France.
Around a third of Afcon’s 629 players were born outside Africa.
Countries like Cape Verde, Algeria, and Cameroon have teams largely made up of players raised abroad, which is a major difference from teams like Egypt and South Africa, who rely solely on homegrown talent.
This trend has sparked a debate: should we embrace this representation of players with heritage connections, or does it overshadow local talent?
Dr Gerard Akindes, a sports professor, traces the trend back to migration patterns influenced by economic pressures and colonial legacies, The Athletic reported.
Many African players have enhanced their skills because they grew up in countries offering better sporting infrastructure than those on the continent.
The Royal Moroccan Football Federation actively recruits from its base of players born abroad but who have family members born in Morocco.
Morocco’s coach, Walid Regragui, stresses unity and the shared national identity among players, regardless of their birthplace.
Nigeria’s success in the tournament is partly credited to players like Lookman, who have connections to Britain.
However, the reliance on foreign-born players also highlights the struggles of domestic African leagues that are overshadowed by better-resourced European systems.
Compiled by staff writer
Pictured above: Ademola Lookman.
Image source: X
