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For example, some of the finest players from Senegal and Cameroon have honed their skills in France - the former colonial master.

However, the world is also awash with African-born players who changed nationality for one reason or another.

Zinedine Zidane, Claude Makelele, Patrick Vieira and Marcel Desailly are some of the better-known stars of African origin.

Our Out of Africa section will track the fortunes of players with African roots as they parade their skills in some of the world's top leagues.

Listed below are some of the players with African roots and the countries they now represent.

Zinedine Zidane: France (Algeria)

Jean-Alain Boumsong: France (Cameroon)
Charles Itanje: France (Cameroon)
Bruno N'Gotty: France (Cameroon)
Pascal Nouma: France (Cameroon)

Henrik Larsson: Sweden (Cape Verde)
Manuel dos Santos: France (Cape Verde)

Claude Makelele: France (DR Congo)
Peguy Luyindula: France (DR Congo)
Blaise N'Kufo: Switzerland (DR Congo)
Emile Mpenza: Belgium (DR Congo)
Mbo Mpenza: Belgium (DR Congo)
Kiki Musampa: Holland (DR Congo)
Ali Maboula Lukunku: France (DR Congo)
Gaby Mudingayi: Belgium (DR Congo)
Patrick Dimbala: Belgium (DR Congo)
Vincent Kompany: Belgium (DR Congo)
Jose Bosingwa da Silva: Portugal (DR Congo)

Rami Shabaan: Sweden (Egypt)

Youssouf Hersi: Holland (Ethiopia)

John Alieu Carew: Norway (Gambia)

Freddy Adu: United States (Ghana)
Gerald Asamoah: Germany (Ghana)
Marcel Desailly: France (Ghana)
George Boateng: Holland (Ghana)
Eric & Daniel Ofori Okyere: Belgium (Ghana)

Miguel: Portugal (Guinea Bissau)

Olivier Kapo: France (Ivory Coast)
Djibril Cisse: France (Ivory Coast)

Yassine Benajiba: Belgium (Morocco)

Abel Xavier: Portugal (Mozambique)

Emmanuel Olisadebe: Poland (Nigeria)
Shola Ameobi: England (Nigeria)
Okonkwo Digger Ifeani: Malta (Nigeria)
Ugochukwu Ehiogu:England (Nigeria)
Ade Akinbiyi: England (Nigeria)
George Ndah: England (Nigeria)

Patrick Vieira: France (Senegal)
Ibrahim Ba: France (Senegal)
David Bellion: France (Senegal)

Carlton Cole: England (Nigeria/Sierra Leone)

Fabio Liverani: Italy (Somalia)

Sean Dundee: Germany (South Africa)

Sabri Lamouchi: France (Tunisia)

Robert Earnshaw: Wales (Zambia)