Some top European superstars could have played in the ongoing 2021 AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations) if they had not snubbed their ancestral homes for their country of birth or where they were raised.
Recall that since January 9, 2022, the best national teams in the continent of Africa started the 2021 AFCON football tournament in Cameroon. The tournament would have had in attendance European superstars like Paul Pogba, Karim Benzema, N’golo Kanté, and many others. But the superstars decided to choose their adopted homes over their ancestral homes.
Below are the top European superstars that could have played in the 2021 AFCON if they didn’t snub their ancestral homes
- Karim Benzema
Karim Benzema would have played for Algeria national team in the ongoing 2021 AFCON if he had not chosen to play for France national team. The football star who currently plays for Real Madrid was born to Algerian parents but grew up in France.
Karim Benzema has been representing France in international football since he was below 17. He made his senior international debut for France on March 28, 2007. Since then, the 34-year-old striker has made 94 appearances and has scored 36 goals. His transfer market value is €25 million.
- Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay would have played for Ghana national team in the ongoing 2021 AFCON if he had not decided to play for Netherlands national team. The 27-year-old striker who currently plays for FC Barcelona was born in the Netherlands to Ghanaian parents.
Depay has played for all the age group teams in the Netherlands. He made his senior international debut on October 15, 2013. Since then, he has made 75 appearances for the country and has scored 38 international goals. His current transfer market value is €45 million.
- N’golo Kanté
N’golo Kanté would have played for Mali national team if he did not switch his allegiance to France national team. He is a child of Malian migrants. The 30-year-old defensive midfielder is currently playing for Chelsea football club.
Kanté made his international debut on March 25, 2016. Since then, he has made 51 appearances in all competitions and has scored two goals for France’s national team. His current market value is €50 million.
- Dayot Upamecano
Dayot Upamecano would have played for Guinea-Bissau national team if he had not switched his allegiance to France national team. He is a child of parents from Guinea-Bissau who gave birth to him in France.
The 23-year-old France defender is currently playing for Bayern Munich. He made his international debut on September 5, 2020. Since then, the defender has scored a goal for France. His market value is €55 million.
- Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba would have played for Guinea in the ongoing 2021 AFCON if he had not switched his allegiance to France national team. He was raised in France by Guinean parents.
The 28-year-old central midfielder is currently playing for Manchester United. He made his international debut on March 22, 2013. Since then, Pogba has made 89 appearances for the country and has scored 11 goals.
- Ansu Fati
Ansu Fati would have played for Guinea-Bissau if he had not switched his allegiance for Spain’s national team. The 19-year-old winger was raised in Spain by parents from Guinea-Bissau.
Currently, Fati is playing for FC Barcelona. He made his international debut on September 3, 2020. Since then, he has made 4 appearances and has scored a goal for Spain’s national team. His current market value is €60 million.
- Tammy Abraham
Tammy Abraham would have played for Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON if he did not decide to switch to England national team. The 24-year-old striker was born and raised in England.
Abraham is currently playing for Roma. He made his international debut on November 10, 2017. Since then, he has played 10 times for England and has scored three goals. His current market value is €38 million.
- David Alaba
David Alaba would also represent Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON 2021 if he had not decided to play for Austria. The 29-year-old defender was born and raised in Austria by a Nigerian parent.
The 29-year-old center-back is currently playing for Real Madrid. He made his international debut for Austria on October 14, 2009, and has scored 14 goals for the country. His current market value is €55 million.
- Bukayo Saka
Bukayo Saka would have played for Nigeria in the ongoing AFCON if he had not decided to play for England National team. The 20-year-old English left midfielder was born in England to Nigerian parents.
Saka is currently playing for Arsenal. He made his international appearance on October 8, 2020. Since then, he has made 14 appearances in all competitions and has scored four goals for England. His current market value is €65 million.
