The 2016 European Championships are underway in France, and many of the players who are representing European nations have African roots.
Some were born in Africa, while others have parents that call the African continent home. Either way, all of the featured players in this slideshow could have been playing for African national teams instead of their European sides.
We profile 20 players and the national teams that they could be representing if they had chosen Africa rather than Europe.
Source: Eurosport , UEFA , TheIndependent , TheGuardian , Telegraph .
Paul Pogba is a French international – espn.co.uk
Paul Pogba
At Euro 2016 they are representing: France
African team that they could have represented: Guinea
Marouane Fellaini could have played for Morocco – sports.yahoo.com
Marouane Fellaini
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Belgium
African team that they could have represented: Morocco
David Alaba playing for Austria (Photo by Alex Grimm/Bongarts/Getty Images)
David Alaba
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Austria
African team that they could have represented: Nigeria
Carvalho was born in Angola – thepeoplesperson.com
William Carvalho
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Portugal
African team that they could have represented: Angola
Stephan El Shaarawy represents the Azzurri – express.co.uk
Stephan El Shaarawy
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Italy
African team that they could have represented: Egypt
Dele Alli is an English international – telegraph.co.uk
Dele Alli
At Euro 2016 they are representing: England
African team that they could have represented: Nigeria
A star is born in N’Golo Kanté – dailymail.co.uk
N’Golo Kanté
At Euro 2016 they are representing: France
African team that they could have represented: Mali
Swiss player François Moubandje could be an Indomitable Lion – alchetron.com
François Moubandje
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Switzerland
African team that they could have represented: Cameroon
Danilo Pereira of Portugal – express.co.uk
Danilo Pereira
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Portugal
African team that they could have represented: Guinea
Portugal international Éder – (EPA/MIGUEL A. LOPES)
Éder
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Portugal
African team that they could have represented: Guinea-Bissau
Christian Kabasele (sudinfo.be)
Christian Kabasele
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Belgium
African team that they could have represented: Congo
Bacary Sagna is a veteran French player – africatopsports.com
Bacary Sagna
At Euro 2016 they are representing: France
African team that they could have represented: Senegal
Divock Origi representing Belgium – express.co.uk
Divock Origi
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Belgium
African team that they could have represented: Kenya
Patrice Evra is as experienced as they come – huffingtonpost.co.uk
Patrice Evra
At Euro 2016 they are representing: France
African team that they could have represented: Senegal
Steve Mandanda will be backup keeper – Goal
Steve Mandanda
At Euro 2016 they are representing: France
African team that they could have represented: Congo
Luis Nani has been a great contributor for Portugal – express.co.uk
Luis Nani
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Portugal
African team that they could have represented: Cape Verde
Ogbonna may represent the Azzurri in June – thehardtackle.com
Angelo Ogbonna
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Italy
African team that they could have represented: Nigeria
Jerome Boateng is an established German international – zeenews.india.com
Jerome Boateng
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Germany
African team that they could have represented: Ghana
French international of Angolan descent, Blaise Matuidi – basketsession.com
Blaise Matuidi
At Euro 2016 they are representing: France
African team that they could have represented: Angola
Sami Khedira could have played for Tunisia – dailystar.co.uk
Sami Khedira
At Euro 2016 they are representing: Germany
African team that they could have represented: Tunisia