Amid hotly contested elections, nations abandoning regional blocs, and ongoing security challenges, people across the continent have found some relief in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, or AFCON, a tournament for Africa’s top men’s soccer teams. The 34th edition is being hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, no stranger to domestic uncertainty itself. But this year’s competition is, more than anything, a testament to the increasing influence that migration is playing on and off the field—and not in the ways one might expect.
Amid hotly contested elections, nations abandoning regional blocs, and ongoing security challenges, people across the continent have found some relief in the ongoing African Cup of Nations, or AFCON, a tournament for Africa’s top men’s soccer teams. The 34th edition is being hosted by Cote d’Ivoire, no stranger to domestic uncertainty itself. But this year’s competition is, more than anything, a testament to the increasing influence that migration is playing on and off the field—and not in the ways one might expect.
When AFCON began in 1957, predating even the European championships, it was established to promote pan-African ideals and encourage stronger sporting links on a continent about to experience a wave of independence. Soon enough, soccer grew beyond simply being a national pastime.
An estimated 6,000 young African players now arrive in Europe annually in a bid to become the next big star, with dreams of the riches that wealthier clubs can provide. Unfortunately, some are lured by fake agents who have preyed on their eagerness and talent in order to make money off their unsuspecting victims. In most cases, these players end up in places such as Portugal, the United Kingdom, or France and become part of undocumented communities abandoned by traffickers.
For those who do realize their dreams abroad, they have often helped fuel the sporting glory of European nations. The World Cup-winning French squads of 1998 and 2018 are widely acknowledged to have been driven by immigrants, who reflected the country’s multiracial heritage.
But this year, there is a reversal of sorts underway—a trend that has become a key point at this year’s AFCON tournament. Of the 630 players representing 24 teams at the tournament, 200, or about 32 percent, are from the African diaspora. They have chosen to play for a home nation, revealing the increasing attraction of playing for African teams.
Children play soccer in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Jan. 12. Franck Fife/AFP via Getty Images
The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Cape Verde, both unexpected quarterfinalists, are among the top five countries with significant diaspora representation. Of the 200 diaspora players at the tournament, former colonial powers France (104), Spain (24), and the United Kingdom (15) lead the table and show the continued influence these historical links play in the world of sports.
Many African nations are actively trying to convince players to change their national allegiance, taking advantage of rules making players whose parents might have retained their nationalities eligible to play for several countries. The prospect of avoiding the much more competitive European qualification process for making a national squad or the appeal of representing a link to home have led to several making that switch, with some even announcing it just before competitions—a decision that is usually nonreversible after representing a team at a major tournament.
These campaigns by African soccer federations have drawn the ire of critics who see recruitment abroad as demeaning the work of domestic African leagues that gives local players an inferiority complex toward foreign-trained players.
This has also led to some citizens accusing the players of not being patriotic enough. In the wake of increasing attempts to leave harsh economic realities, as embodied by the Nigerian slang term japa (a Yoruba word meaning to flee or escape), critics contend that those who have left can’t possibly have the same loyalty as those who stayed.
On the biggest global stage, questions of identity loom even larger. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup, around 16.5 percent of players were born in a country other than the one they represented. Among African teams, the number ranged from 14 for Morocco to eight for Ghana and a total of 42 percent of the players being foreign-born.
Morocco, the continent’s top-ranked team, which made a surprise run to the 2022 World Cup semifinals, has been driven by a desire to ensure the best players possible represent the squad, regardless of where they are originally from. It is perhaps best embodied by Achraf Hakimi, the Moroccan player who scored the winning penalty that knocked out Spain, the land of his birth, or by Kalidou Koulibaly, the Senegalese captain who recalled watching Senegal beat France in the 2002 World Cup. Like the captain, 12 of the Senegalese squad that reached the Round of 16 of the 2022 World Cup are also foreign-born.
Nigeria’s goalkeeper Stanley Nwabali celebrates at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations semifinal match between Nigeria and South Africa in Bouake, Ivory Coast, on Feb. 7. Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images
For a younger generation of aspiring players, seeing role models who have been successful in well-established leagues come back to play for the national team could help cement the idea that one can be successful at home and abroad. This year, Nigeria’s tournament run has been anchored by two players who made their names abroad: Ademola Lookman and Stanley Nwabali. Lookman was born in the United Kingdom and plays club soccer in Italy; he only chose to play for Nigeria two years ago but scored key goals in this AFCON tournament’s knockout rounds.
Nwabali, who became first-choice goalkeeper during the tournament, had previously played in the Nigerian domestic league but currently plays for South African team Chippa United. These examples show how foreign-trained talents can help build the continent’s national teams. And some of that foreign training is the direct result of intra-African migration. In addition to Nwabali, South Africa’s domestic league nurtured the talent of many members of this year’s South African squad.
For Africa’s youth, freedom of movement and jobs would play a big role in forcing governments to adopt better policies at home or risk the consequences of potential migration of talent. Recent tournaments also show how these talents can still be developed at home through strong policies. Mauritania has seen dividends from investing in the sport and played its first knockout match after beating 2019 champions Algeria.
Vendors sell football kits belonging to different clubs and national teams at a market stall ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, on Jan. 6. Issouf Sanogo/AFP via Getty Images)
The Brazilian legend Pelé famously predicted an African team would one day win the World Cup. And while that did not come to pass in his lifetime, significant investment could ensure that it does—and also help address the growing sense among young Africans that they need to flee.
Morocco, host of the next AFCON tournament in 2025 and one of the hosts of the 2030 World Cup, has notably invested in soccer and seen results in its teams’ performances. There are still attempts to migrate from Morocco to Europe, both by Moroccans and—more often—those transiting from other nations, but increased opportunities on the continent could offer an alternative dream.
Ultimately, most players will still pursue moves abroad owing to their performances and the wealth gap between clubs on the continent and those in Europe or elsewhere. But if the AFCON maintains its appeal and promise, it won’t be long before they return home.
