2022 World Cup: Players of African Descent Playing for Non-African Countries

Despite the various controversies trailing it, the 2022 FIFA World Cup taking place in Qatar, now in the round-of-16 stage, has proven quite entertaining. Old powers have been toppled: Germany losing to Japan and crashing out of the tournament in the group stage. And new powers have emerged: Morocco beating star-spangled Belgium, becoming the second African team, after Nigeria, to top a group twice at the World Cup, having previously achieved the feat in 1986.

But this World Cup, like the ones before it, has also been a crash course on the effects of migration and globalism, particularly on the African continent, as many players of African descent wear the jerseys of non-African countries, particularly European ones, to the glee of many and to the curiosity of many others.

Timothy Weah

It is not everyday that a president’s son represents another country in the world’s biggest sporting event. And yet, this is the case of Timothy Weah, the 22-year-old son of George Weah—Liberia’s 25th president and a former footballer—who represented the United States in this World Cup, scoring in his World Cup debut in the group stage match against Wales. Timothy also plays as a forward for Ligue 1 side Lille. 

Born and raised in New York with his Jamaican mother, his decision to play for the US is hardly a surprise. Having featured in the US’s under-15, -17, -20 and -23 sides, he made his debut in the senior team in March 2018. And though he represents the US, he was equally eligible to represent Liberia, Jamaica and France. 

But not everyone has accepted his decision, not only because his father’s office creates a somewhat strange situation, but because of his father’s stature in football—George Weah won the Ballon d’Or and the FIFA World Player of the Year awards in 1995, the only African to have claimed either of both prizes.

Despite the criticism, Weah the Elder seems to not mind; he celebrated his son’s World Cup debut, having not played in one himself despite his stellar stints at Monaco and AC Milan and over 70 appearances for the Liberian football team.

The US are out of the 2022 World Cup, following a 3-1 defeat to the Netherlands in their round-of-16 match.

Breel Embolo

When Breel Embolo scored for Switzerland in their group stage match against Cameroon, the 25-year-old did not celebrate with his teammates out of deference for the Cameroonian fans. Although largely raised in Brussels, the Swiss capital, Embolo was born in Yaounde, Cameroon’s capital city, moving to France with his Cameroonian mother after her divorce from his father, before finally settling in Switzerland. 

Currently a footballer for the French club Monaco, Embolo received Swiss citizenship in 2014, and made his debut the next year for the Swiss national team. While his beloved Cameroon have crashed out of the tournament, Embolo and his Swiss teammates will face Portugal in the round-of-16.

Jamal Musiala

Once described as having a “great eye and feeling for choosing the right spaces” by his German coach Hansi Flick, the lanky Jamal Musiala was one of Germany’s best players at the 2022 World Cup, dazzling fans with his breathless close control, dribbling, spatial awareness and body balance, techniques so well mastered they belie his youth—he is only 19 years old. In Germany’s nervy group stage game against Costa Rica on December 1, Musiala completed 13 dribbles, two shy of Austin Jay-Jay Okocha’s record of 15 in 1994, the most by a player in a World Cup game. 

But he could have played for Nigeria’s Super Eagles had he wanted to, his father a British-Nigerian Yoruba, his mother a German of Polish descent. He could also have played for England—although born in Stuttgart, he moved to England when he was 7, even playing for England’s U15, U16, U17 and U21 teams, eventually pledging allegiance to Germany in February 2021 and representing them at the Euro 2020.

Germany may be out of the tournament, but many fans will keep an eye on Musiala, who plies his trade as an attacking midfielder, and occasionally as a winger, for the Bundesliga club Bayern Munich.

Kylian Mbappé

Born in Paris and subsequently raised in nearby Bondy, Kylian Mbappé’s African heritage is two-pronged: his father hails from Cameroon and his mother is of Algeria Kabyle descent. Already a World Cup winner and one of the best players in the world currently, Mbappé so far has been impressive for France in this World Cup, his two goals against Poland in the round-of-16 bringing his tally in this tournament to five, putting him ahead of the likes of Lionel Messi and Marcus Rashford in the race to win the Golden Boot award, the prize given to the tournament’s highest goalscorer.

France’s supporters will hope Mbappé carries his fine run of form to their quarterfinal game against Gareth Southgate’s England.

Alejandro Balde 

Spain’s coach Luis Enrique only included Alejandro Balde in Spain’s World Cup squad because Valencia defender Gayá had to drop out due to injury. When 19-year-old Balde made his World Cup debut as a substitute in Spain’s group stage game against Costa Rica, he made an immediate impact, a solo run from him leading to Gavi scoring Spain’s fifth goal of the game—Spain won 7-nil. 

Born in Barcelona, Balde is both Guinean and Dominican. He currently plays as a left back for Barcelona Atlètic, FC Barcelona’s B team, and has enjoyed cameos in Barça’s first team.

Bukayo Saka

Only 21 years old, Bukayo Saka has started to make his name in world football, his exploits performed either in an Arsenal FC or England shirt. Since making his England national team debut in October 2020 in a match versus Wales, Saka has been explosive for the Three Lions, playing a crucial role in helping his team reach the final of Euro 2020, which they lost on penalties to Italy, a towering Gianluigi Donnarumma saving Saka’s penalty. While Saka plays for England, he was eligible to play for Nigeria, his parents Nigerian Yorubas who had migrated from Nigeria to London for economic opportunities. The name “Bukayo” is Yoruba and translates to “add to my joy.”

Sake made his World Cup debut in England’s opening group stage game against Iran, winning the Man of the Match award after scoring a brace, becoming the youngest player to score two goals or more in a World Cup debut since Franz Beckenbauer did so in 1966. 

He already has three goals to his name in this World Cup, and will be looking to shake off the disappointment of the Euro 2020 outing.

Amadou Onana

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=kYeCLfzOqmo

Amadou Onana, who plays as a defensive midfielder for the English club Everton, played two matches in this World Cup for Belgium, missing The Red Devils’ final group stage game against Croatia after picking up two yellow cards. The 21-year-old made his international debut in June 2022. But though he plays in a Belgian shirt, he is of Cameroonian and Senegalese descent. 

Belgium’s disappointing showing at this World Cup, despite their vast talent pool, has caused them an early exit out of the tournament, with many fans and pundits taking it as symbolically marking the end of Belgium’s so-called Golden Generation comprising ageing stars like Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard. With the passing of the old guard, Belgians, looking toward the future, will hope to regain their mojo with starlets like Onana.