For the first time since 1982, no African side reached the second round of this year’s World Cup.
Many Africans were hurt by the news, but are now taking consolation with the French team, who are having over half of their 23-man squad being connected to the continent.
France has so far been tipped by many people to win the tournament considering their stunning performance since the start of the game.
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But many have attributed their success to the majority of their players who are having deep African roots.
The following players in the French team have African roots and are giving African fans some motivation to continue watching the rest of the game:
1. Presnel Kimpembe
Presnel Kimpembe
Presnel Kimpembe (defender): Born in France to a Congolese father and a Haitian mother. Plays for Paris St Germain.
2. Samuel Umtiti
Samuel Umtiti — Pinterest
Samuel Umtiti (defender): Born in Yaoundé‚ Cameroon but moved to France at the age of two. Plays for Barcelona.
3. Adil Rami
Adil Rami — talkSPORT
Adil Rami (defender): Born in France to Moroccan parents. Plays for Marseille.
4. Djibril Sidibé
Djibril Sidibé — Le Parisien
Djibril Sidibé (defender): Born in France to parents of Malian descent. Plays for Monaco.
5. Benjamin Mendy
Benjamin Mendy — City Watch
Benjamin Mendy (defender): Born in France to parents of Senegalese descent. Plays for Manchester City.
6. Steven Nzonzi
Steven Nzonzi — Daily Star
Steven Nzonzi (midfielder): Born in France to parents of DR Congo descent. Plays for Sevilla.
7. Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé
Kylian Mbappé (striker): Born in France to a Cameroonian father and an Algerian mother. Plays for Paris Saint-Germain‚ on loan from Monaco.
8. Ousmane Dembélé
Ousmane Dembélé — Metro
Ousmane Dembélé (striker): Born in France to a Nigerian/Malian father and a Mauritian/Senegalese mother. Plays for Barcelona.
9. Nabil Fekir
Nabil Fekir — Zimbio
Nabil Fekir (striker): Born in France to parents of Algerian descent. Plays for Lyon.
10. Paul Pogba
Paul Pogba — Metro
Paul Pogba (midfielder): Born in France to Guinean parents. Plays for Manchester United.
11. Thomas Lemar
Thomas Lemar — Mirror
Thomas Lemar (midfielder): Born in France and is of Nigerian/Guadeloupe descent. His grandfather played for the Super Eagles. Plays for Monaco.
12. Corentin Tolisso
Corentin Tolisso — Daily Express
Corentin Tolisso (midfielder): Born in France with a father of Togolese descent. Plays for Bayern Munich.
13. N’Golo Kanté
N’Golo Kanté
N’Golo Kanté (midfielder): Born in France to Malian parents. Plays for Chelsea.
14. Blaise Matuidi
Blaise Matuidi
Blaise Matuidi (midfielder): Born in France to an Angolan father and a Congolese mother. Plays for Juventus.
15. Steve Mandanda
Steve Mandanda
Steve Mandanda (goalkeeper): Born in Kinshasa‚ DR Congo and moved to France as a teenager. Plays for Marseille.
