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Over a dozen
players with African histories will feature for top teams at the 2012
European Championship which kicks of today in Poland and Ukraine.
France,
unsurprisingly, lead the
others with eight African players, followed by Portugal who have three players, all of
whom are from the Cape Verdean Islands.
Africaplays.com takes a peek at some of the
players.
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PATRICE EVRA - FRANCE
Manchester
United left-back Patrice Evra was born in Dakar, Senegal, to a Senegalese diplomat of Guinean
descent and a Cape Verdean mother.
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STEVE MANDANDA - FRANCE
Born in Kinshasa,
the Marseille number one goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is number two to Hugo
Lloris in the France
team. His brother, Parfait, also a goalkeeper with Belgian club Sporting Charleroi, has played for Congo DR.
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ALOU DIARRA - FRANCE
Imposing
midfielder Alou Diarra was born in Villepinte in France to Malian parents. The Marseille
star turned down the opportunity to play for Mali in 2004.
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ADIL RAMI - FRANCE
Valencia centre-back Adil Rami was born in Bastia to
Moroccan parents. Morocco tried unsuccessfully to
secure his switch to the Atlas Lions.
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SAMIR NASRI - FRANCE
Born in
Marseille to Algerian parents, France, Manchester City attacking
midfielder Sami Nasri is a key member of Laurent Blanc's France.
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KARIM BENZEMA - FRANCE
Immensely
talented Real Madrid forward Karim Benzema was born in the French city of Lyon to
Algerian parents. He made his debut for France in 2006.
Real Madrid
star Karim Benzema has his roots in Algeria
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BLAISE MATUIDI - FRANCE
Idolised Nigeria's
Jay-Jay Okocha when he was growing up, but now plays in the defensive
midfield position at Paris Saint Germain. He was born in Toulon to
an Angolan father and a French mother.
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HATEM BEN ARFA - FRANCE
Newcastle
United's creative attacking midfielder Hatem Ben Arfa has a Tunisian
father, but a French mother. His father Kamel was a Tunisian international.
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NANI - PORTUGAL
Manchester
United's dashing winger Nani was born in Praia, Cape
Verde, and he moved to Lisbon at
an early age.
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SILVESTRE VARELA - PORTUGAL
FC Porto
winger Silvestre Varela is one of three players in the Portuguese squad,
including Nani, whose parents hail from the Cape Verde Islands.
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ROLANDO - PORTUGAL
FC Porto
defender Rolando was born in Sao Vicente in Cape
Verde and
moved to Portugal at the age of 14.
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JEROME BOATENG - GERMANY
Brother of Ghana's Kevin-Prince Boateng,
Jerome, has been a regular feature in the German team's defence since the
2010 World Cup. He was born in Berlin, to a
Ghanaian father and a German mother.
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SAMI KHEDIRA - GERMANY
Another in
the German team from Africa is Real Madrid
holding midfielder Sami Khedira. Born inStuttgart to a German mother and a Tunisian
father, he was impressive for Germany at
the 2010 World Cup, bagging the winning goal in the third-place match
against Uruguay.
Tunisian
roots, Germany
star
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KHALID BOULAHROUZ - NETHERLANDS
Born in
Maassiluis to Moroccan parents, 30-year-old defender Khalid Boulahrouz will
be flying the Dutch flag at the championship.
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IBRAHIM AFFELAY - NETHERLANDS
Barcelona midfielder Ibrahim Affelay was born
in Utrecht to
a Moroccan family. He opted to play for the Netherlands despite interest from Morocco.
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ANGELO OGBONNA - ITALY
Centre-back
Angelo Ogbonna was born in Cassino to Nigerian parents. He is a
team-mate of Super Eagles star Nnamdi Oduamadi in Torino,
both helping the Serie B side gain promotion to the topflight this past
season.
Born to
Ghanaian parents, Mario Balotelli will lead Italy's attack.
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MARIO BALOTELLI - ITALY
Young
maverick Mario Balotelli was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents. He was put up
for adoption and raised by an Italian family. The Manchester City star turned down a chance to play
for the Black Stars, opting for the Azzurri.
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THEODOR GEBRE SELASIE - CZECH REPUBLIC
Defender
Theodor Gebre Selassie is the son of an Ethiopian father, Gebre Selassie
and plays for Czech side Slovan Liberec.
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DANNY WELBECK - ENGLAND
Daniel Nii
Tackie Mensah Welbeck was born in Manchester to Ghanaian parents. The
Manchester United forward broke hearts in Ghana when
he opted to play for England.
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