Gareth Southgate announced his provisional squad for the 2024 European Championship on Tuesday with a few surprises in the selection.
Six players with African heritage made the 33-man list that will be trimmed before the tournament kicks off Germany on June 14.
Crystal Palace’s Marc Guehi who was born in the Ivorian capital city of Abidjan made the very competitive defensive line-up.
Guehi played across England youth ranks and he is gradually becoming a regular fixture in the Three Lions since his debut in March 2022.
Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa is another player of African descent in Gareth Southgate’s selection.
The versatile defender was born to a Congolese father and an Angolan mother in London. He made his international debut for England in March this year.
Manchester United’s teenage sensation Kobbie Mainoo enjoyed a breakthrough campaign at Old Trafford which earned him his first international call-up to the Three Lions in March.
Mainoo was born to Ghanaian parents, however, he is marching on to his first Euro appearance with England.
Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was born to Nigerian parents in London and he is set for his second outing in the European Championship.
Saka won the England Player of the Year award in 2022 and 2023.
Eberechi Eze of Crystal Palace was born to Nigerian parents and he was a target for the Nigeria Football Federation to play for the Super Eagles.
Eze played his first ever game for England in June 2023 during the Euros qualifiers and he is set for his first major tournament with the Three Lions after a remarkable return of 11 goals and four assists in the just-concluded Premier League season.
Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah also made Southgate’s provisional squad for the trip to Germany and his roots can be traced to Ghana.
Quansah is the grandson of former Ghana player Samuel Quansah.
