In current a long time, France have benefited from an extended checklist of gamers with African roots — together with Kylian Mbappe himself. Nonetheless, this time the scenario has flipped, as Senegal have chosen two promising Ligue 1 skills to strengthen their squad for the upcoming Africa Cup of Nations.
This week, head coach Pape Thiaw introduced his squad for the November worldwide break, throughout which Senegal will face Brazil and Kenya in friendlies as preparation for the continental event kicking off on December 21 in Morocco.
Ibrahim Mbaye is among the greatest surprises on the checklist. The 17-year-old ahead has impressed over the previous two seasons with Paris Saint-Germain, the place he was a part of the Ligue 1 and UEFA Champions League–successful staff. In opposition to all odds, he has chosen to signify Senegal as a substitute of France.
In reality, Mbaye had been preselected to play for France on the FIFA U-20 World Cup 2025, held earlier this yr in Chile. In the end, he was not noted of the ultimate squad, reportedly opting to stick with PSG to earn an even bigger function below coach Luis Enrique. With out the ahead — in addition to different younger stars reminiscent of Need Doue — France have been eradicated within the semifinals by Morocco.
Ibrahim Mbaye of Paris Saint-Germain.
The opposite Ligue 1 star known as up by Senegal
Ibrahim Mbaye just isn’t the one Ligue 1 standout who may have represented France however as a substitute selected Senegal for his worldwide profession. Additionally included in coach Thiaw’s squad for the November worldwide break is Mamadou Sarr.
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The 20-year-old heart again was born in France and is the son of former Senegalese star Pape Sarr. Mamadou started his profession with Olympique Lyonnais in 2023 however actually broke out with RC Strasbourg final season. That rise earned him a switch to Chelsea this summer season, though he’ll stay in Ligue 1 till the top of the marketing campaign.
Like Mbaye, Sarr was eligible to signify France by beginning — and he did so at youth stage, serving as captain of the France U-17 staff and competing within the 2022 UEFA European Underneath-17 Championship in Israel. Now, at senior stage, he has dedicated to Senegal, following in his father’s footsteps.
FIFA guidelines on worldwide illustration
The problem of gamers switching nationwide groups throughout their careers has undergone quite a few regulatory adjustments over the previous century. FIFA has regularly tightened restrictions, although lately it has launched exceptions to account for distinctive circumstances, particularly given at the moment’s vital world migration.
At the moment, a participant can signify one nation at youth stage and one other at senior stage, supplied they’ve respectable ties to that nation — whether or not via a dad or mum’s or grandparent’s nationality, or long-term residency.
On the senior stage, twin illustration stays potential in restricted circumstances. Pleasant matches don’t completely tie a participant to a nationwide staff, and in some circumstances, even official matches enable flexibility below strict situations.
If a participant takes half in as much as three official matches for a nationwide staff earlier than turning 21, they could later swap allegiance, so long as at the very least three years have handed since their final look. Nonetheless, in the event that they play in a FIFA World Cup or a significant continental event such because the UEFA European Championship or Copa America, they turn into completely tied to that nationwide staff.
