Some Ghanaian diasporas who will be representing other countries in the FIFA World Cup.
Ghana is ranked 8th on the table of teams that have highest percentage of players who weren’t born at the country they are representing at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
However, there are also players who trace their root from Ghana, but are representing other countries in the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup. This article will spotlight some of these players.
Alphonso Davies
Davis was born in a refugee camp in Ghana. That means, he is a Ghanaian by birth; however, he chose to represent Canada. He will be leading them in this year’s Mundial.
Jeremy Doku
Jeremy Doku was born in Antwerp, Belgium, to a Ghanaian Father. By descent, he is a Ghanaian but he made Ghana an opportunity cost to play his senior debut in the Belgium national team in 2020.
The forward has gone ahead to chalk 11 caps with 2 goals. He was enlisted on Belgium’s final 26 man squad for the first ever winter World Cup.
Memphis Depay
The Barcelona player recently visited Ghana for holidays . Despite the forward having Ghanaian Father, he was playing for the Netherlands youth team till 2013 when he made his senior wppea6. Since then, the Netherland born has made 81 appearances, scoring 42 goals on the road.
He was part of the Netherland team that won Bronze at the 2014 Brazil World Cup. This year, he will represent them again at the Qatar showpiece.
Mohammed Muntari
Unlike the other players in this list, Muntari is a fully Ghanaian. He was born in Ghana to Ghanaian parents, and also schooled in the country. Life survival battle led him to Qatar, and got affiliated to Aspire Academy.
Aspire academy, narrated by Ghanaian sport journalist Sadick Adams:
“In 2004, the Head of State of Qatar, by decree, established the Aspire Academy, with branches in other countries, to scout for young players and train them. They hired world class coaches and administrators and built modern sports complexes for this purpose.
“They also instituted a lenient policy on naturalization of athletes in particular, to help them attract and talented youngsters from other countries.
In 2010, their vision of hosting the World Cup was attained.”
Muntari through the above initiative, naturalized for Qatar, thus making him eligible to play for the middle East country. Thankfully, he made it to the final squad, and might be playing his first World Cup match on Sunday against Ecuador.
Nico Williams
Nico Williams is a winger who ply his trade together with his elder brother Inaki Williams at Atlético Bilbao in Spain.
On intentional front, whilst his brother Inaki will be priding himself in Ghana colours, Nico on the other hand will be fighting for Spain’s flag at the world’s football fiesta. They were born by Ghanaian parents.
Richie Laryea
Laryea is playing on loan from Nottingham Forest at Toronto FC. Just as his surname suggest, he has a Ghanaian origin. However, he will be dawning the jersey of his country of birth, Canada.
Apart from Muntari who was born in Ghana, all the aforementioned players were born in the countries they are representing.
