Players with african roots

[Payaah]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/3151583.stm
The export of African football talent to Europe has a long history which can be traced back to the colonial period.
For example, some of the finest players from Senegal and Cameroon have honed their skills in France - the former colonial master.

However, the world is also awash with African-born players who changed nationality for one reason or another.

Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira and Marcel Desailly are some of the better-known stars of African origin.

Our Out of Africa section will track the fortunes of players with African roots as they parade their skills in some of the world's top leagues.

Listed below are some of the players with African roots and the countries they now represent.

But if you know of any player of African origin whose name does not appear on our list, please let us know by emailing us at [email protected]

Zinedine Zidane: France (Algeria)

Patrick Vieira: France (Senegal)
Ibrahim Ba: France (Senegal)
Lamine Sakho: France (Senegal)
David Bellion: France (Senegal)

Claude Makelele: France (DR Congo)
Peguy Luyindula: France (DR Congo)
Blaise N'Kufo: Switzerland (DR Congo)
Emile Mpenza: Belgium (DR Congo)
Mbo Mpenza: Belgium (DR Congo)
Kiki Musampa: Holland (DR Congo)
Ali Maboula Lukunku: France (DR Congo)
Gaby Mudingayi: Belhium (DR Congo)
Patrick Dimbala: Belgium (DR Congo)
Vincent Kompany: Belgium (DR Congo)

Freddy Adu: United States (Ghana)
Gerald Asamoah: Germany (Ghana)
Marcel Desailly: France (Ghana)
George Boateng: Holland (Ghana)
Eric & Daniel Ofori Okyere: Belgium (Ghana)

Emmanuel Olisadebe: Poland (Nigeria)
Shola Ameobi: England (Nigeria)
Okonkwo Digger Ifeani: Malta (Nigeria)
Ugochukwu Ehiogu:England (Nigeria)
Ade Akinbiyi: England (Nigeria)
George Ndah: England (Nigeria)

Olivier Kapo: France (Ivory Coast)

Djibril Cisse: France (Ivory Coast)

Jean-Alain Boumsong: France (Cameroon)
Charles Itanje: France (Cameroon)
Bruno N'Gotty: France (Cameroon)
Pascal Nouma: France (Cameroon)

Sabri Lamouchi: France (Tunisia)

Rami Shabaan: Sweden (Egypt)

Carlton Cole: England (Nigeria/Sierra Leone)

Fabio Liverani: Italy (Somalia)
Youssouf Hersi: Holland (Somalia)

Robert Earnshaw: Wales (Zambia)

Abel Xavier: Portugal (Mozambique)

Sean Dundee: Germany (South Africa)

Yassine Benajiba: Belgium (Morocco)

John Alieu Carew: Norway (Gambia)

oh my word, i cant believe it, zidane is algeria...

 

[Hans]

Ryan Giggs also got african roots. Believe me, I read that once at www.manutd.com some months ago.

 

[Hendrik]

What would the french nt do without their African players?

 

[-William-]

Most people know Zidane was born in Algeria, although some french say its Marseille

 

[Back Door Skip]

thats what i mostly see.....on his bio it never says hes algerian, i heard it in the world cup last year but i didnt believe it..........i checked the net and all sites i looked up said he was born in Marseille, and never mentioned his roots

 

[finger]

I believe his parents are Algerian, but he could have been born in Marseille.

What of Thierry Henry, I recall his Nationality was some vague and obscure country I'd never heard of.

 

[Bobby]

I think Martinique

 

[Jedi Mind Trick]

yea his parents immigrated from martinique and thierry was born in paris, i think.

 

[mufc_daddy]

I think Djorkaeff is Algerian aswell.

I remember when France played Senegal at the World Cup the commentator said Vieira's relatives were all cheering for Senegal.

 

[Punkt]

Originally posted by mufc_daddy
I think Djorkaeff is Algerian aswell.

I remember when France played Senegal at the World Cup the commentator said Vieira's relatives were all cheering for Senegal.

Djorkaeff is armenian.

 

[northstar]

Edgar Davids is born in Suriname (Dutch colony)
so are some other Dutch national players I think.

 

[ILLnezz]

zedane is algeria.. Africa have contributed ALOT to soccer.. but its pathetic how politics mess it up for them.. the best dribblers comes from there (OKOCHA) and its one of the most enetertainment team (NIGERIA)

 

[Jedi Mind Trick]

hell yea those african teams are entertaining. i thought senegal was one of the most entertaining and fun to watch teams in last year's world cup. nigeria has a lot of talent and are fun to watch too, but too bad they were stuck in that group of death...that england/nigeria draw was one of the most boring matches i've seen in my life however.

 

[mufc_daddy]

Originally posted by Punkt
Djorkaeff is armenian.

Thanks for the correction.

 

[Hans]

Originally posted by northstar
Edgar Davids is born in Suriname (Dutch colony)
so are some other Dutch national players I think.

Suriname is on south america. Most of dutch players from there have Javanese and south east asian roots, like Giovanni van Bronckhorst and Ruud Gullit.

 

[Fernandez]

no wonder van Bronckhorst looks asian....

 

[-William-]

I think also Kluivert was born in Surinam,although Im sure Seedorf was.. Also Karembeu was born in a island of the pacific cant remember the name..and Anelka was born in Martinique

 

[mufc_daddy]

Karembeau is from New Caledonia and Van Bronkhorst has Indonesian roots.

 

[Back Door Skip]

looks like holland and france wouldnt really have a NT without all the foreign rooted players....imagine that

 

[Fernandez]

france would not even qualified for euro competitions let alone wc... holland still have a team.... van der vaart, ruud v nistelrooy, jaap stam, van Bommel.....