Mbappé, Saka & Leão - Most valuable players who could have played for an African nation

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The Africa Cup Of Nations is well underway with some of the world's biggest stars such as Nigeria's Victor Osimhen and Liverpool's Mohamed Salah in action trying to lead their nation's to continental glory. Some players could be set to miss up to seven games with their club sides if their nations are to go all the way to the final of the tournament.

Senegal won their first ever AFCON in the last tournament in 2022, beating seven time winners Egypt on penalties in the final in Cameroon. Some of the greatest talents across Europe at this moment in time come from African nations. However, there are many players with dual nationality and African roots, who could have chosen to represent an African country, but instead opted to play for a European nation. And when you start to collate those players, the results are astonishing. If these players had made a different decision, then you get the impression, an African nation could have very realistic sights of being a World Cup winner in the near future. The level of the current AFCON would also be raised mightily.

The most valuable African eleven from second citizenship players

The mouthwatering eleven above of players who could have represented African nations pull in a remarkable combined market value of €915m. For context, Manchester City, who have the most valuable squad in the world, could only accumulate a market value of €910m from their most valuable eleven.

It also raises the wider topic of what it means to represent a nation, with lots of players attempting to play for a European nation at the beginning of their career, but if it then doesn't work out, choosing the African country they are eligible for instead. Algeria's Houssem Aouar, and Cape Verde's Bebé (Both at the current AFCON tournament) are good examples of this. Aouar played for France at youth level and even turned out for the first team in a 7-1 friendly win against Ukraine in 2020, but after limited opportunities, switched allegiances to Algeria in 2023. Former Manchester United forward Bebé played six times for Portugal U21's, but years later in 2022, aged 31, played his first match for Cape Verde.

Of course each player has a complex history with the countries they are available to represent, which will in turn effect every decision differently, case by case. The continent of Africa itself has also had to deal the effects of colonisation and mass immigration over the past couple of centuries, which complicates the subject.

Three of the above eleven in Kylian Mbappé (Market value: €180m) Aurélien Tchouaméni (MV: €90m) and William Saliba (MV: €75m) all had the possibility to represent Cameroon but instead chose France. Add that spine to Cameroon's eleven right now and no doubt they would be favourites for AFCON, and probably up there for the 2026 World Cup. Goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu (MV: €15m) who is admittedly the weak link of this ultra strong eleven, playing for Southampton in the Championship but still only 21 years old, and Arsenal's Bukayo Saka (MV: €120m) had the option to play for Nigeria, but Saka chose England and Bazunu plays for Republic of Ireland.

There are another six African nations that would have been potential options for the rest of the team. Rafael Leão (MV: €90m) could have played for Angola instead of Portugal. Eduardo Camavinga (MV: €90m) had the option to represent Republic of the Congo instead of France. Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku (MV: €75m) might have chosen DR Congo over France. Liberia was an option for Alphonso Davies (MV: €70m) who instead represents Canada. Jules Koundé (€60m) has dual nationality with Benin and the country he plays for - France. And finally, right-back Jeremie Frimpong could have chosen Ghana instead of the Netherlands.