All African teams were kicked out of the Russia 2018 World Cup. However, not all African players have been sent home. The French team has a total of 14 players all of African roots.
Didier Deschamps’ team has more than half of its players from Africa. France, being a nation that has always been ready to welcome black players into its national team, is set to raise the Cup this time.
In 1998 when they won the World Cup, France had the likes of Patrick Viera, Lilian Thruam and Marcel Desailly. Now with players such as Samuel Umtiti, Paul Pogba, Kylian Mbappe, N’golo Kante, Blaise Matuidi and Nabil Fekir proven to be important for the first team, Africans will be cheering on “France/Africa” to win Russia 2018.
Here are the African players who are representing France at the World Cup:
1. Samuel Umtiti – Cameroon
2. Presnel Kimpembe – Congo
3. Paul Pogba – Guinea
4. Kylian Mbappe – Cameroon
5. Ousmane Dembele – Senegal/Mali
6. Corentin Tolisso – Togo
7. N’golo Kante – Mali
8. Blaise Matuidi – DR Congo
9. Steven Nzonzi – DR Congo
10. Steve Mandanda – DR Congo
11. Adil Rami – Morocco
12. Nabil Fekir – Algeria
13. Djibril Sidibe – Senegal
14. Benjamin Mendy – Senegal
