Total U-20 AFCON – African talents abroad showing off

Coaches present at the 2021 edition of the Total Africa Cup of Nations in Mauritania told CAFOnline.com how this competition is important in the constitution of future football elites in their countries. This is why they did not hesitate to go and take the best young people where they are.

"Why deprive us of our players, if there is the possibility of bringing in talented players from abroad, we must not hesitate," said Central African Republic coach Sébastien Ngato, who qualified his team for the quarterfinals in their maiden appearance. Ngato has five of his players having their career abroad.

For their first match in U-20 AFCON history, Tunisia fielded eight expatriates out of their starting 11. “Our football federation launched a policy towards our players abroad, that is to bring them to integrate our national teams”, said Maher Kanzari, Tunisia coach and former Carthage Eagles midfielder.

This new policy satisfied French side Stade Rennais goalkeeper Elias Imed Damergy, who said he is proud to be able to represent his country at this level of competition.

“I was already called up to senior Carthage Eagles last November in AFCON qualifiers, and it is a huge pride to be able to represent my country,” Damergy said.

The language barrier was not a problem for German-born defender Ramzi Ferjani who plays for FC Nitra in Slovakia. “I’m speaking English with several players in the squad but you know football is a universal language,” he said.

Burkina Faso has seven abroad based players in their squad, and coach Oscar Barro said he sees no difference between locals and expatriates.

Same applies for Cameroon as per coach Cristophe Ousmanou. “The Cameroon team are all Cameroonians, whether they were born in the country, outside or working in other countries,” he said.

Cameroon has seven abroad based players, including the sons of former stars, Samuel Eto’o and Bill Tchato.

At the end of the day, of the 12 teams present in Mauritania, only Namibia did not have expatriates.

However, the presence of abroad based players expatriates does not necessarily mean being competitive. Mozambique, which lost all three group games had three players in the Portuguese championship. While Uganda advanced to the semifinals with only one expatriate player, Jack Komakech of Ascent Soccer Academy in South Africa.