France lifted its second World Cup trophy in 2018 with a squad so deeply rooted in African and Caribbean heritage that social media quickly nicknamed it "Africa FC." Nearly 78 percent of the players came from families with origins outside mainland France. The irony was sharp: while that French generation was celebrated as one of the greatest in the tournament's history, not a single African nation made it out of the group stage, marking one of the continent's worst World Cup showings since 1982.
This pattern goes back at least to 1998, when France's first World Cup win leaned heavily on players like Marcel Desailly, Zinedine Zidane, Lilian Thuram, and a young Thierry Henry, all with roots in Africa or the French Caribbean. It reflects something deeper than football, pointing to France's old colonial policy of assimilation, the so-called mission civilisatrice, which aimed to absorb colonised people into French identity over generations. Twenty years on, that policy's long legacy was visible in every corner of the 2018 squad, from Paul Pogba and Kylian Mbappé to N'Golo Kanté and Samuel Umtiti.
For some of these players, the connection to a country of origin has genuinely faded. Growing up in immigrant families across multiple generations, with lives, friendships, and careers rooted in Europe, the pull toward an African national team may simply not be felt. The decision to represent France, England, or another European nation is not always a calculated one. Sometimes it is just the identity that feels true.
Other times, the choice is deliberate and contested. Manchester United midfielder Kobbie Mainoo was born in Stockport to two Ghanaian parents, yet chose to represent England, accepting a squad role even behind established stars. Ghana Football Association president Kurt Okraku called the decision "unfortunate" and said that "full-blooded Ghanaians should be representing their countries." His frustration echoes across the continent, where federation officials watch some of the world's most gifted footballers suit up for the nations that developed them, not the ones that made their families.
Originally published by African Business.