Expert Blogs

It seems appropriate that the first World Cup in Africa has an increasing number of players with their roots on the continent but playing for European sides.

On top of a record representation of six African countries in the 32-team field, six other counties have also picked players with Africa heritage for whom the 2010 finals in South Africa will have added resonance (vuvuzelas not withstanding).

The French are famously endowed with many players of African descent but other countries like Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Portugal, Switzerland and the U.S have sons of African soil in their ranks, too.

Several previously flirted with an international career in colours of African teams, others went unnoticed by the country of their ancestry before emerging now as World Cup competitors.

It is a factor of the global village and modern migratory patterns that most major European sides represent much more their immigrant communities than they do old national stereotypes. African sides benefit so much more these days from being able to chose players from their respective worldwide Diasporas.

It is highlighted by the potential of siblings going up against each other for the first time in World Cup history when Kevin Prince Boateng of Ghana could face up to younger brother Jerome when Germany meet Ghana next week. Both are German born but the Portsmouth midfielder has opted to play for the land of his father.

There should be more of this in the years to come but already players of African descent are spread widely throughout the World Cup.

Daniel Aogo, a recent addition to the Germany squad, was once previously called up by Nigeria but never properly pursued the invitation.

Dutch prodigy Ibrahim Affellay was furiously courted by Morocco but, after some consideration, decided to play for the country of his birth, rather than that of his immigrant parents.

The Portugal defender Rolando was also chased by the Cape Verde Islands, where he was born, but he felt his international prospect would be better served by sticking with Portugal, where he grew up. Being chosen for the World Cup squad was vindication of his choice.

Danish left back Patrick Mtiliga has a Tanzania father and had long been the subject of tentative enquiries from Dar-es-Salaam but not enough firm resolve on the part of the Tanzanians to persuade him to play for them.

Many others of African descent have burst on the world stage as strangers to the continent. The best example is Oguchi Onyewu, who gave such a stellar defensive performance for the Americans against England in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Born to Nigerian parents, he spoke emotively last year during the Confederations Cup of his delight at playing in Africa and the deep feelings competing in the World Cup would evoke for him.

There are seven French players with African roots, two born on the continent, including captain Patrice Evra from Senegal, who the west Africans desperately wanted in their team but who Raymond Domenech, then under-21 coach, persuaded rather to play for France.

Steve Mandanda (DR Congo), Djibril Cisse and Abou Diaby (Ivory Coast), Alou Diarra (Mali), Sydney Govou (Benin) and Bacary Sagna (Senegal) are the others. Cisse's father was an Ivorian international.