Africa: a welcoming home for footballers from all backgrounds

European national teams are full of players of African descent. From Kylian Mbappé to Bukayo Saka, via Cody Gakpo and Antonio Rudiger, these players have not forgotten their roots. Although they have chosen to represent European national teams, not least because most of them were born there, they remain attached to their origins. That is why they travel to the continent, either to reconnect with their roots or for humanitarian causes.

The latest is Kylian Mbappé. The Parisian is currently visiting Cameroon, his father's homeland, for the first time in his life. On Friday 07 July he will visit a school in Yaoundé whose refurbishment was paid for by his foundation, and he will be received by the Cameroonian Prime Minister. Mbappé will play a football match with Vent d'Etoudi, a second-division side whose president is Yannick Noah. He will also stay at Village Noah, a tourism and leisure complex in the Etoudi district (owned by Noah). Finally, Kylian will round off his brief trip with a return to his roots in his father's village, on the island of Djébalé, on Saturday. The France international is not the only "child of Africa" to return to set foot on the continent, however.

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Connecting with ancestral roots and humanitarian work

In recent years, with the boom in social media, nobody can hide any more, least of all football stars. Everything they do away from the pitch is scrutinised. One observation is that players of African descent are increasingly spending their holidays in their countries of origin. They take the opportunity to get involved in social causes. A case in point is Germany's Antonio Rudiger, who stands out for his regular trips to Sierra Leone, as well as his humanitarian work (funding medical operations and so on, through his foundation). This year, he is currently on holiday in Gambia. The practice has caught on. Cody Gakpo, the Liverpool forward, has also visited his father's country, Togo. Like Rudiger, he is also involved in philanthropy.

Others, too, have reconnected with their homeland and relatives there: Milan's Malick Thiaw was seen celebrating Eid in Senegal. There is also Alexandro Baldé, the Spanish left-back at FC Barcelona, who recently stayed in Guinea-Bissau, his country of origin. Last year, Germany's Thilo Kehrer travelled to Burundi, his mother's country of origin. Arsenal star Bukayo Saka also spent time in Nigeria, where his family is from, in June 2023. His videos even went viral on social media.

Ghanaian by adoption, Memphis Depay has become a regular visitor to the Gold Coast. On each trip he looks radiant, showing a closeness to the locals that he has rarely displayed in Europe. The Ghanaian star of Atlético Madrid seems, as the saying goes, to have found a part of himself again. And this year, 2023, he brought along his compatriot of Surinamese origin, Wijnaldum. His team-mate no doubt told him about the good vibes and warmth of Africa, and he took the plunge. Memphis has stepped up his humanitarian work.

Players with no African ties driven by volunteering

The African continent has long attracted benefactors who want to help people facing hardship. That is nothing new. Alongside African players who have their own foundations, their European counterparts are also getting involved in Africa. This year, Lille player Remy Cabella was seen in Senegal playing with young people and handing out shirts, gifts and other items to women in a village in Kaffrine. He visited schools. His activities are carried out in partnership with the association Vision du Monde. Brazil's Ronaldinho, after visiting Guinea, will also travel to DR Congo. That will be on 21 and 22 July.

Fairytale holiday spots

In recent years, Tanzania and Zanzibar, with their extraordinary sites, have welcomed prominent figures from around the world, and footballers are no exception. Many of them have been photographed in these idyllic spots. In the past Gana Gueye was spotted there. This year, Kingsley Coman, a regular, is there again. Sergi Busquets has fallen for the advertising of the place. Kurzawa and Boubacar Kamara have also been seen there in the past. The range of activities on offer runs from safaris to boat trips on turquoise waters...

Africa offers a wealth of choice, and other players have picked different destinations. Pepe Guardiola, a man of culture, is in Egypt to see the cultural landscapes and the remains of the pyramids. Camavinga is in Morocco, which also offers wonderful places to relax and holiday, with its medinas, beaches and souks.

In Senegal, too, a few stars manage to spend their holidays without being recognised. Ryan Giggs, apparently, was a regular visitor to the country in his heyday.

Holidays at home are a must for local stars

Africa's biggest stars are also seen in their home countries with family and friends. Almost all of them do the same things. Victor Osimhen was seen playing in Nigeria with a team of friends. The same goes for Sadio Mané, who recently organised a game back home, as he does from time to time on open ground in Bambali. There is also André Onana. None of this is out of the ordinary. Their upbringing demands humility, loyalty and courtesy, on pain of being rejected by the public. No snobbery allowed!

Mamadou Diallo