The Africa Cup of Nations is in full swing and we’ve already had some thrilling matches in the early stages of the tournament.
Perhaps one of the biggest shocks was Cape Verde’s last-gasp victory against four-time champions Ghana. Meanwhile, Equatorial Guinea held goliaths Nigeria to a 1-1 draw, and 2021 finalists, Egypt, failed to claim victory against Mozambique in a game that finished 2-2.
On Wednesday, Zambia took the lead against Congo in quite bizarre fashion after their goalkeeper came charging out of the box and was left in no-mans land before Kings Kangwa floated the ball into the back of the net from long range.
This year’s tournament promises to be one of the most exciting yet, with a ton of top-quality stars making their way to the Ivory Coast in hopes of claiming victory for their team.
Mohamed Salah is one of the standout players to watch this year, as the Egypt forward endeavours to finally win the tournament with his national side after the heartache of having previously come narrowly close on two separate occasions.
Kylian Mbappe is one of the biggest names in world football and could have qualified to play for Cameroon
Eduardo Camavinga is another top star who could have featured at the tournament
Germany international Jamal Musiala could have represented Nigeria at AFCON but opted to play for Die Mannschaft instead
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His former team-mate, Sadio Mane is another player to keep an eye on as Senegal look to successfully defend their title at the tournament. Napoli star Victor Osimhen is another hot prospect, as he continues to attract the interest of many clubs throughout Europe.
But there are a host of star names who could have been eligible to play at AFCON but have instead pledged their international allegiances elsewhere.
From Kylian Mbappe to Curtis Jones, we’ve created our AFCON XI from some of the top players with dual nationality that could have featured at AFCON 2023.
Goalkeeper – Gavin Bazunu (Southampton and Republic of Ireland)
Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu made his debut for the Republic of Ireland back in 2021 and has gone on to earn 20 caps for the national side, notably being Ireland’s first-choice between the sticks for their recent Euro qualifying campaign in 2023.
The goalkeeper could, however, have qualified to play for the Super Eagles, as he is of Nigerian descent.
Gavin Bazunu of Southampton made his debut for Republic of Ireland in 2021 but could have played for Nigeria
Right back – William Saliba (Arsenal and France)
Okay so I know what you’re thinking and yes, Saliba is not a natural full back, but we couldn’t leave him out of our starting line-up and he has filled in at right back before.
Following his £27million move to Arsenal back in 2019, Saliba has risen to becoming one of the most impressive defenders in the Premier League. Despite suffering some nasty injuries, the Frenchman, who has 12 caps for his national side, is starting to stake a claim as the apparent heir to Virgil van Dijk’s throne as the best centre-back in the top-flight.
The 22-year-old was born in Bondy in France and has represented Les Bleus at senior level on 12 occasions – making his debut for the national side in a friendly against the Ivory Coast back in 2022.
Despite that, he could have opted to play for Cameroon, with his mother hailing from the country.
Arsenal centre back William Saliba made his debut for France back in 2022 but could have played for Cameroon
Centre back – Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich and France)
Born in Evereux in France, Upamecano is of Guinea-Bissau descent, with his mother also hailing from Senegal.
Interestingly though, the 25-year-old is also of royal descent, with his great-grandfather being king of a village on the island of Jeta in Guinea-Bissau.
Despite that, the Bayern Munich centre back has risen through the France youth ranks, making his debut for the senior side back in 2020, and asserting himself as a regular face in Didier Deschamps starting line-ups.
Dayot Upamecano could have been eligible to play for Guinea-Bissau and is actually of royal descent
Centre back – Ibrahima Konate (Liverpool and France)
Another player who has vowed to ‘become better’ than Van Dijk is his Liverpool team-mate Konate. And he’s certainly been in flying form this season for the Merseyside outfit.
Konate particularly impressed during Liverpool’s 2-0 FA Cup victory against Arsenal and has helped them rise to the top of the Premier League standings.
The 24-year-old has 13 caps for France and made his debut back in 2022. Born in Paris, Konate’s parents hail from Mali.
Ibrahima Konate has been in flying form for Liverpool this season and claimed that he wants to be ‘better’ than Virgil van Dijk
Left back – Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich and Canada)
Having been born in Buduburam in Ghana to Liberian parents, Alphonso Davies obtained Canadian citizenship back in 2017 and became eligible to play for Canada.
The highly-regarded 23-year-old is one of the most exciting young prospects in the game at the moment having already made 44 caps for the Canadian national side scoring a whopping 15 goals.
Having joined Bayern Munich in 2019, there is some talk that he could swap the Bundesliga for LaLiga, with Real Madrid reportedly keen to sign the full-back, who’s contract will expire in 2025.
Alphonso Davies joined Bayern Munich back in 2019 there is some talk he could swap the Bundesliga for LaLiga and join Real Madrid
Centre midfield – Eduardo Camavinga (Real Madrid and France)
The Real Madrid youngster is one most exciting midfield prospects in the game right now and at the age of 21 he has already won a Champions League, LaLiga title, French Cup, Spanish Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League.
Camavinga’s story, though, is an inspiring one. Born in Angola, his parents left the country due to conflict, with Camavinga spending the first few months of his life in a refugee camp. The family would move to France, and while Camavinga is eligible to play for Angola, he made his senior debut for Les Blues back in 2020, during a Nations League match against Croatia.
But it’s been a tough season for the holding midfielder. He was ruled out for an extended period after tearing his lateral knee ligaments in his right knee while on international duty with France.
At the age of 21, Camavinga has already won a Champions League, LaLiga title, French Cup, Spanish Cup and the 2021 UEFA Nations League
Centre midfield – Curtis Jones (Liverpool and England)
An exciting talent who has grown to become a metronome in the Liverpool midfield this season, Jones – who is yet to make his senior debut for the England men’s senior side – has put his name up as one player who could be in with a shout of travelling to this summer’s Euros in Germany.
But, he could have been playing at this year’s AFCON instead, and in fact, could still switch to play for Nigeria, with the Liverpool star having only represented the Three Lions at age-level.
Jones, who featured in our starting XI of players who could play for both Nigeria and England, is eligible to play for the Super Eagles through his grandmother. And according to OneFootball, England nearly lost Jones who had once considered switching his allegiances to Nigeria.
Curtis Jones could have qualified to play for Nigeria but through his recent performances could earn a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the 2024 Euros
Attacking midfield – Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich and Germany)
Another exciting young midfield talent who could have played for Nigeria is Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala. The 20-year-old is thriving this season alongside new signing Harry Kane and has attracted the attention of several big clubs around Europe.
Pep Guardiola reportedly ‘wants’ to sign the German international, while Real Madrid will reportedly also try to snap him up if they are unable to sign Kylian Mbappe.
Musiala could have represented several teams at international level, having played for both England and Germany, before he pledged his allegiances to Germany and made his Die Mannschaft debut in 2021.
Born in Stuttgart to a British-Nigerian father and German mother, Musiala could have represented the Super Eagles, had he not opted to play for Julian Nagelsmann’s side.
Musiala could have represented several teams, having played for both England and Germany at youth-level
Right wing – Bukayo Saka (Arsenal and England)
We couldn’t not leave Saka off our starting XI considering the sensational form he’s been in with Arsenal over the last two seasons.
So far in the 2023-24 campaign he has registered nine goals and 12 assists across 27 appearances in all competitions, an impressive return to say the least. He is also not far off surpassing his tally of 15 goals and 11 assists from last season.
Born in London to Nigerian parents, Saka is eligible to play for the African side, but instead has grown to become one of the most pivotal members of Gareth Southgate’s current England squad, after making his debut for the England back in 2020.
Bukayo Saka is another England star who could have qualified to play for Nigeria
Left wing – Kylian Mbappe (PSG and France)
One of the biggest names in world football, Mbappe could have qualified to play for Cameroon through his father or Algeria through his mother, Fayza Lamari’s descent.
Mbappe, who was born in Paris, chose to represent France and has risen to becoming a leader within the French national side, guiding them to victory at the 2018 World Cup.
His role within the side has not gone unrecognised though, with Didier Deschamps handing him the captain’s armband back in March 2023, after Hugo Lloris announced his retirement from international football.
Mbappe, who was born in Paris, chose to represent France but could have played for Cameroon
Centre forward – Karim Benzema (Al-Ittihad and France)
Karim Benzema called full-time on his international football career back in December 2022, having scored 37 goals in 97 appearances for France.
He had travelled with France to Qatar for the 2022 World Cup but suffered a thigh injury the day before the tournament kicked off with Benzema, who made his international debut back in 2007, subsequently announcing his retirement.
Karim Benzema called full-time on his international football career back in December 2022
Benzema played in the 2008 and 2012 Euros with France and the 2014 World Cup, but missed out on winning the iconic trophy with the national side in 2018 following a blackmail scandal.
Prior to his international retirement the former Real Madrid star also moved to Al-Ittihad last summer in a three-year deal worth £258m.
But things could have been very different for the 36-year-old, who is of Algerian descent. Benzema was once reportedly courted by the Algerian Football Federation and could have played for the African nationb but instead chose to represent France.
This XI was a tough one to build, with there being several other top stars out there who could have made the cut.
Here are a few stars that could have been included but just missed out…
Nathan Ake – Ivory CoastDavid Alaba – NigeriaN’golo Kante – MaliAurelian Tchouameni – CameroonJeremy Doku – GhanaRafael Leao – AngolaLeroy Sane – Senegal