The ongoing African Cup of Nations in Morocco has received widespread publicity, especially with the sons and daughters of the soil in diaspora attending the games to support their countries through their parents.

Zinedine Zidane, whose son currently represents Algeria and has been one of the best goalkeepers so far, headlines the list of legends who preferred to play for bigger-name European countries than their African ones.

In today's football, Kylian Mbappé, Aurelien Tchouameni, Jules Kounde, and several others have been pictured at stadia showing support for their African countries, while they could have been starring in the tournament themselves.

However, many of these players, current stars of world football, are eligible to represent these African teams and would have been lighting up the AFCON had they chosen to commit their international allegiances.

Some players never considered representing their African roots, and were never approached by their respective Federations. Current Ballon d'Or winner, Ousmane Dembele, was eligible to represent one of Mali, Senegal, or Mauritania through his parents.

The likes of Jamal Musiala, Cody Gakpo, Jeremy Doku, Nico Williams, Moise Kean, and countless others, especially from the French national team, were of African roots, but their ties with their respective European countries were stronger.

Nevertheless, some could have easily picked their affiliated African countries but chose to play for European countries. Below are 10 of these players, who could have been the stars of the ongoing tournament in Morocco.

10. Destiny Udogie with Nigeria

Born in Verona to Nigerian parents, Destiny Iyenoma Udogie was eligible for Nigeria through his heritage. However, he chose to represent Italy, having played for their national teams at every youth level from U16 to U21.

In 2022, after turning down an approach from the Nigerian Football Federation, Udogie explained his decision, stating: "I was born in Italy, so I feel more Italian. I grew up playing with the young players in Italy."

He realized his ambition in October 2023 when he debuted for the senior Italian squad, eventually becoming a regular starter in their 2025 World Cup qualifying campaign.  

9. Boubacar Kamara with Senegal

Aston Villa midfielder Boubacar Kamara remains a notable figure in the international eligibility debate, having chosen France over his West African heritage, stating his goal was always to represent France, although he respects his Senegal heritage through his father.

In 2022, before making his senior debut with Les Bleus, Senegal manager Aliou Cissé reportedly reached an agreement in principle for the midfielder to represent the Teranga Lions, however, Kamara ultimately accepted a call-up from Didier Deschamps.

He went on to mark his debut for France that year in May, but hasn't been called up since March 2024, and has been stalled on five caps since. What a waste it would be if he never got another invitation.

He famously left his honeymoon to take the place of injured Adrien Rabiot on the squad in June 2023, and didn't play a single minute of football in the two games of the break.

8. Amadou Onana with Cameroon or Senegal

For someone who has been mistaken for another African star due to his name, Amadou Onana, starring in the midfield of Aston Villa during the African Cup of Nations, will forever remain as awkward as he is Belgian.

Eligible to represent Cameroon through his father and Senegal through his mother, those are two of Africa's football powerhouses, but Onana, who moved to Belgium at age 11 to unite with his dad, progressed through their youth system.

He eventually chose the Red Devils, debuting in 2022. While he identifies as Belgian professionally, Onana often speaks of his great pride in his African upbringing, crediting Senegal for his family values and cultural identity.

Imagine him lining up alongside Sadio Mané, Iliman Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson, Ismaila Sarr, Gana Gueye, and others for the Teranga Lions, as they look to win the AFCON title for the second time in three editions.

7. Karim Adeyemi with Nigeria 

Borussia Dortmund forward Karim Adeyemi has reaffirmed his commitment to the German national team, despite his strong Nigerian and Romanian heritages from his father and mother respectively.

Adeyemi, who debuted for Germany in 2021, admitted that choosing Die Mannschaft over the Super Eagles was a difficult decision he often has to explain to his father, who would have preferred his son to bear the flag of Nigeria.

While he is now fully a German international with 11 caps, Adeyemi remains connected to his roots through his Karim Adeyemi Foundation in Ibadan, which supports football and education for local youth.

6. Eberechi Eze with Nigeria 

Arsenal playmaker Eberechi Eze, whose parents are both Nigerian from the Igbo tribe, made his international debut with the Three Lions of England, a few weeks before his 25th birthday, ending the expectations from Nigerians.

Eze was a long-term target for the Nigeria Football Federation, even trained with the Super Eagles sometime in 2018, but never featured for the team, allowing England to snap him up for the youth teams.

Having represented them at the U20 and U21 levels, Ebs finally committed to the senior team in 2023 when he made his competitive debut, describing the move as the right decision for his career.

The 27-year-old cited the opportunity to compete at what he considers the highest level of football as a great influencer of his decision. What a miss for Nigeria. What a miss for the AFCON.

5. Rayan Cherki with Algeria 

Manchester City’s Rayan Cherki finalized his international future by debuting for France this year in May, despite deep ties to Algeria and efforts to team him up with the Desert Warriors.

Born in Lyon, the 22-year-old playmaker is of Algerian descent through both parents; his mother, Abla, hails from Biskra, while his father, Fabrice, also shares Algerian heritage.

Cherki starred for France's youth teams longer than expected for such a talented player, but continued to wait for a call-up to the national team even though Algeria offered him the chance to do that much earlier.

He passed up the chance to star in the AFCON earlier this year when he accepted a senior call-up from Didier Deschamps, and had an impressive cameo for his debut in a 5-4 loss to Spain in the UEFA Nations League.

4. Michael Olise with Nigeria or Algeria 

Bayern Munich playmaker Michael Olise remains a unique figure in international football due to his eligibility for four different nations, including two African, but he chose a non-African country, France.

Born in London to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mother, Olise could have represented England, Nigeria, or Algeria at the senior level.

Despite strong interest from the Nigerian Football Federation, which placed him on a standby list in 2021, Olise committed to France, starring for them in the 2024 summer Olympics before his promotion to the senior team.

The 24-year-old cited a lifelong connection to his mother’s homeland and childhood admiration for French icons like Thierry Henry as the primary reasons for his decision. Imagine Olise pulling the strings for Nigeria in the AFCON.

3. Bukayo Saka with Nigeria 

Arsenal star Bukayo Saka remains deeply connected to his Nigerian roots despite his career with the England national team, but representing the Super Eagles was never a realistic option, even if the NFF had tried.

Born in London to Yoruba parents from Ogun and Kwara States, the 24-year-old’s full name, Bukayo Ayoyinka Temidayo Saka, reflects his heritage, one he has never been shy to disclose.

Sometimes, he spends his holidays in Nigeria, and even chose a spouse of his tribe, following the announcement of his engagement with Tolami Benson a few weeks back.

Saka chose to represent England in 2020, citing his development within the English youth system and a desire to be part of the nation's transformation. He also noted that he never lived in Nigeria, and England felt like the right choice.

2. Lamine Yamal with Morocco

In a past interview, Lamine Yamal has addressed the dual-heritage decision that saw him choose Spain over Morocco despite being born to a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother in Catalonia.

The 17-year-old was eligible to represent all three nations and would have been one of the stars of the African Cup of Nations, especially with host and huge favourites, Morocco.

Despite Morocco’s historic 2022 World Cup run and a significant improvement in their football in recent years, they never stood a chance as Yamal opted for the Spanish national team, with whom he has gone on to win the Euro 2024 title. 

The teenage sensation explained that while he holds deep affection for his father’s homeland, Spain is the country where he grew up and developed his career, so he feels more of a Spaniard.

1. Kylian Mbappé with Cameroon

While Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé is the face of French football, his ties to Cameroon remain a significant part of his identity as this is the country of his father Wilfrid, who was originally from Djebale.

Despite his heritage, Mbappé represents France, a choice influenced by early career frustrations caused by greediness and corruption of Cameroon football stakeholders, a malady that continually threatens the growth of Africa.

Reports indicate that his father initially approached the Cameroonian Football Federation (FECAFOOT), but the family was allegedly asked for payment to secure a spot for Kylian in the team.

Consequently, Mbappé committed to France, where he debuted for free and later guided them to the 2018 World Cup, winning the Young Best Player award, and is now closing on becoming the country's all-time leading goalscorer.