Which Africans could make France’s Euro 2021 squad?

Houssem Aouar

Technical midfield master at Olympique Lyonnais, Aouar has taken over responsibilities following Nabil Fekir’s departure for Real Betis, and has retained an impressive level despite a tricky season for OL.

He’s proved himself to be a big-game player—notably in the Champions League, where he scored once and contributed three assists—across five performances.

France have a lot of midfield options, but with injuries and a loss of form affecting some of Aouar’s would-be rivals, he could find himself in with a shout for a reorganised European Championships.

It would come as a real blow to Algeria, who surely still hold out hope of recruiting the Manchester City and Juventus transfer target.

Dayot Upamecano

Upamecano has been influential this term as RasenBallsport Leipzig have mounted a title challenge in the Bundesliga, and reached the Champions League quarter-finals, having eliminated Tottenham Hotspur along the way.

He’s quickly establishing himself as one of the finest young defenders in the game, and despite being eligible for Guinea-Bissau, is a key figure in France’s youth teams.

Ibrahima Konate

Another Leipzig starlet, Konate has also looked the part this term for the Bundesliga surprise package, and is clearly benefiting from the tutelage of Julian Nagelsmann.

At just 20, he’s got time on his side as he looks to refine his game, but he’s demonstrated his international pedigree as a part of Sylvain Ripoli’s U-21 side.

Born in Paris, Konate is eligible for Mali, and rumours in the local press suggested that Eagles head coach Mohamed Magassouba had eyed up the youngster ahead of the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nordi Mukiele

Our third option from Leipzig is Mukiele, who’s thriving in Germany after leaving Montpellier in search of more gametime.

Now 22, the full-back has become a key figure in Nagelsmann’s plans, and has impressed down the right flank in both the Bundesliga and the Champions League, where he’s made eight appearances en route to the final eight.

The towering wideman is also eligible for the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Christopher Nkunku

Finally, rounding off our Leipzig quartet, is Nkunku, who’s arguably been second only to Upamecano in terms of making an emphatic Franco-African contribution to the team’s superb campaign so far.

He didn’t get the gametime he felt he deserved at Paris Saint-Germain, and is proving his previous employers were premature to discount him in Germany, where he’s registered 14 assists so far this campaign.

If the Democratic Republic of Congo want him, they’re going to have to move fast.

Eduardo Camavinga

Perhaps the breakout star of the Ligue 1 season, Camavinga was born in Angola, but has represented France at youth level after moving to Western Europe as a child.

At only 17, it may appear too early to consider him for a senior call-up, but Camavinga has been so impressive this season that he’s courting reported transfer interest from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.

He’s surely destined for a future with France, but will he receive the call-up before the rescheduled Euros.

William Saliba

Saliba’s hopes of making France’s Euro 2021 squad may depend on how quickly he adapts to life in the Premier League when he joins Arsenal, a move which will either take place this summer or when the 2019-20 season finally does reach its conclusion.

The 19-year-old was signed by the Gunners in 2019 before being loaned back to Saint-Etienne, although several competent defenders before him have seen their stock fall when they’ve been parachuted into the Londoners’ troubled backline.

The Franco-Cameroonian talent has excellent raw credentials, and he could yet demonstrate that Arsenal’s €30 million outlay was money well spent.

Moussa Dembele

After learning his trade at Fulham, and then making his mark at Celtic, Dembele as become one of Ligue 1’s most lethal attacking talents.

There are questions about the future of France’s centre-forward role, with Olivier Giroud surely coming to the end of his international career, and Dembele could be primed to step into his shoes.

He’s scored 22 goals in all competitions so far this term, although a lack of goals in the Champions League perhaps raises doubts about his quality at the absolute highest level.