THE omission of star players Karim Benzema and Hatem Ben Arfa, both of North African Muslim origin, from the French Euro 2016 squad was without doubt a rare blight on the record of a country famous for incorporating players from across the globe, especially Africa.
At first glance, while the Euro 2016 may well be considered an off-peak period for analysts and enthusiasts of the African game, the French assimilation trend is slowly permeating into other teams if the squads at the tourney are anything to go by.
This is typical of our former colonisers who are always eager to exploit African resources, this time human, whenever it suits them.
Almost every country at this year’s European championship has at least a player with African roots, a testimony of the ‘success’ of the assimilation programme mastered to perfection by France and Portugal.
It started long back with a player of Senegalese descent, Raoul Diagne, becoming the first black to play for France in 1931.
Mozambique-born Eusokio led Portugal to a third place finish during the 1966 World Cup in England and was top-scorer with nine goals.
The assimilation programme reached full cycle in 1998 when France lifted the World Cup on home soil.
The French 1998 team’s 23 players included those with roots in Algeria, Senegal, Ghana, and Martinique, just to name a few. 
Below are former and current players plying their trade for European nations.
Although born in Paris, current Manchester City right-back Bacary Sagna could have played for Senegal through ancestry before choosing to play for France.
Claude Makelele, the French midfield lynchpin, son of former Congo DR player Andre-Joseph Makelele who represented the team at the 1974 World Cup when they were still Zaire, also falls into that category.
Although born in the capital Kinshasa, Claude Makelele joined his father in France when he was just four years old and started his career with Nantes in 1991.
Patrick Vieira, from Senegal, didn’t set foot on mainland French soil until he was eight years old, but was granted French citizenship because his grandfather served in the French Army.
The great Just ‘Justo’ Fontaine is best known for being the record holder for most goals scored in a single edition of the FIFA World Cup, with 13 in six games in 1958.
Fontaine could have represented Morocco.
Many will remember Jean Tigana (Mali) as part of the famous foursome French midfield of the 1980s that included Michel Platini, Luis Fernandez and Alain Giresse.
Tigana was born in French Sudan (modern day Mali) which was a colony of France before the country declared independence in 1960, thus making the player eligible for the Europeans.
Congolese talent in Europe typically comes to the fore through representing Belgium, where players such as Romelu Lukaku and Vincent Kompany have heralded a new era of Belgian football in recent times.
While France has a history of incorporating players from former colonies into its national side, many of the nations on show this summer do not.
The Czech Republic, having no overseas territories, has no history of being represented by players of African descent.
That will change this summer, as Theodor Gebre Selassie takes his place in defence.
In Germany, while it is Kevin-Prince Boateng who is more familiar to African audiences, it is the younger Boateng, Jerome, who is flying the family flag in France.
Born in Berlin, to a Ghanaian father, the two brothers had conflicting international loyalties; Kevin-Prince preferring to represent Ghana – the country his uncle Robert also played for, with Jerome opting for Germany – where the two excelled at youth level.
In Germany, Sami Khedira is also of African heritage.
Born in Stuttgart to a German mother and a Tunisian father, Khedira has become the heartbeat of ‘die Mannschaft’ as German is affectionately known.
Also, the nature of football and of international demographics means that a number of players competing for European nations this summer would also have been eligible to represent African national sides.
At Euro 2016, Paul Pogba is representing France, yet in Africa he could be representing Guinea
Marouane Fellaini was playing for Belgium, yet in Africa he could be representing Morocco.
David Alaba represented Austria at Euro 2016 although his roots are Nigerian.
William Carvalho is representing Portugal, yet he is from Angola.
Portuguese top scorer Nani was born in Praia, Cape Verde, but moved to Lisbon at an early age.
Dele Alli represented England although he is Nigerian.
In March 2011, Danny Welbeck made his debut for England at Wembley against Ghana.
Unusually for an international contest, Welbeck was booed by the away-fans as he made his entrance on 81 minutes.
This expression of Ghanaian discontent is understood in the context of Welbeck’s upbringing.
The Manchester United forward is the son of Ghanaian parents.
Many Ghanaians were disappointed at his choice to play for the Three Lions after Black Stars officials had scouted him since 2008 and others scoffed at his decision:
Welbeck’s full name is Daniel Nii Tackie Mensah Welbeck.
Such is the sad reality that the more European countries continue to poach African talent, the more Africa’s chances of winning the coveted World Cup continue to diminish.