Despite the African Cup of Nations being exclusive to players from the African continent, the continental event has not been devoid of the presence of players who obtained the nationality of the countries they represented.
The pioneer in naturalization was the Greek Brasikos, the goalkeeper for the national team and the Suez Canal Club.
He acquired Egyptian citizenship to participate with the Pharaohs in the inaugural edition of the tournament in Sudan in 1957.
A Lebanese professional led Ethiopia to victory in the 1926 edition.
The Ethiopian national team, crowned in the prestigious continental tournament on home soil in 1962, defeating Egypt in the final 4-2, featured a pair of Italians.
Lebanese Omar Ben Sala played a crucial role in the Ivory Coast national team’s journey in AFCON after his strong performance in the 1984 edition in Abidjan.
He continued to contribute to the Elephants’ squad that clinched the title in 1992 in Senegal.
While Lebanon may not be a football powerhouse in the Asian continent, Lebanese-origin defender Pierre Issa acquired South African citizenship and played for his country in the 1998 AFCON in Burkina Faso, where they finished as runners-up.
Brazilian-born Dos Santos played a pivotal role in Tunisia’s AFCON victory in 2004, the Eagles of Carthage’s first-ever triumph in the tournament held in Tunisia.
Dos Santos also claimed the Golden Boot as the top scorer.
The Romanian-born goalkeeper Constantin, playing for the Libyan national team, made his appearance in the 2006 edition, having acquired citizenship but failed to save his team from an early exit in the preliminary round.
Countdown to the Kickoff of AFCON 2023
Football enthusiasts worldwide, and particularly those in the African continent, eagerly anticipate the kickoff of the African Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast, scheduled from January 13 to February 11, 2024.
The competition will feature 24 teams, all of which have previously participated in AFCON.
Leading the pack are Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia, and Mauritania, representing Arab football in the 34th edition of AFCON.
The opening match of the tournament will take place at the “Hassan Wattara Olympic Stadium” in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The event promises to be an exceptional and pivotal moment in African football.
