The 16th edition of the European Championship which was originally scheduled to take place across 12 cities in 12 countries in the 2020 summer finally commenced in Rome on the 11th of June and will end on the 11th of July. Portugal will aim to defend the trophy they won in France in 2016.
Africa will well be represented in this years EURO 2020.Players with African descent will fight for glory in Europe this summer.
Here The Post explains why there’s a ‘Mini AFCON within EURO 2020’.
Africans are migrating to Europe with frantic pace,with the sole aim of seeking for greener pastures and better future for their kids. Since life is far better in Europe than Africa, almost every African, especially the black Africans want to live in Europe. France won their first ever world Cup in 1998 with Zidane whose parents are Algerians and scored a brace against Brazil in the final. Portugal won their only major trophy in 2016 when Eder who was born in Bissau, Guinea scored that precious goal. Euro 2020 will undoubtedly be the Euros that has featured most players of African descent.
France
France will as usual be represented by 11 players of African origin. Steve Mandanda was born in DR Congo, Presnel Kimpembe has a Congolese father, Jules Kuonde has a Beninese father, Kurt Zouma’s parents are from Central African Republic, Ngolo Kante has Malian parents, Paul Pogba has Guinean parents, Moussa Sissoko’s parents are from Mali, Ben Yedder has Tunisian parents, Karim Benzema has Algerian parents, Colentin Toliso has a Togolesse father, Ousmane Dembele has Senegalese father and Senegalese-Mauritanian mother, Kylian Mbappe has Cameroonian father and Algerian mother.
Switzerland
Switzerland will be represented by 8 players of African descent. Goalkeeper Yvon Mvogo was born in Yaounde-Cameroon, Manuel Obafemi Akanji has a Nigerian father, Jordan Lotomba has Angolan father and Congolese mother, Kelvin Mbabu has a Congolese mother, Edmilson fernandes has Cape Verdean parents, Mohammed Djibril Sow is half Senegalese, Denis Zakaria has Congolesse father and Sudanese mother, Breel Embolo was born in Cameroon. Embolo’s mother moved to Switzerland with her sons because she said there were no prospects for the family in Africa.
3.SWEDEN
Alexander Isak has Eritrean parents and Robin Kwamena Quaison’s father is Ghanaian.
Wales
Wales’ Ben Cabango has Angolan father, Ampadu Ethan’s Ghanaian father, Kwame Ampadu had 2 appearances for Arsenal and has assisted Henry at Monaco and Montreal impact.
Belgium
Eight players of African descent are representing Belgium.Mandungu Boyata,the formal Congolese player’s son is Dederyk Boyata,Jason Denayer has Congolesse mother, Nacer Chadli has a Moroccan father, Tielemans has Congolese mother, Batshuayi also has Congolese parents, Benteke was born in Zaire ,Jeremy Doku has Ghanaian parents, Romelu lukaku’s parents are from Dr.Congo.
Denmark
Jatta Njie Jorgensen’s father is from The Gambia and Youssef Poulsen has Tanzanian father.
Finland
Nicholas Alho Has a Ghanaian father, Glenn Kamara’s Sierra Leone parents left Sierra Leone because of the Sierra Leonian war.
Austria
David Alaba has Philippino mum and Nigerian father ,he’s also a DJ and a rapper , Valentino Lazaro has Angolan father, Karim Onisiwo has Nigeriarian descent.
Netherlands
Memphis Depay,son of Ghanaian immigrant Dennis Depay and Nathan Ake who has Ivorian father as well as Cody Gakpo are due to represent Netherlands.Gakpo has a Togolesse father and a Ghanaian mother.
England
Reece James is of African descent, Jude Bellingham has an African mother,Bukayo Saka’s parents are Nigerians,Calvert Lewin has an African Carribean father.
Spain
Spain’s Adama Traore has Malian parents.
Germany
Rudiger has Sierra Leonian parents, Leroy Sane’s Senegalese father played for the Senegalese national team,Serge Gnabry has an Ivorian father and Jamaal Musiela has a Nigerian father.
Portugal
Sporting CP’s Nuno Mendes has Angolan descent, Nelson seemedo is a mixture of Portuguese and Cape Verdean heritage, William Carvalho was born in Angola,Danilo Pereirra was born in Bissau-Guinea Bissau. Renato Sanchez has Sao Tome and Pricipe father and Cape Verdean mother.
There’s “Mini AFCON within EURO 2020” looking at the number of players of African descent.I can predict in 2032 that an European nation will enter the Euros with 18 to 20 players out of the 23-man squad.
by: Amakye Ansah
Writer’s email: nanaamakyeansaholiver@gmail.com
