A Premier League dream team of players with African heritage who were lost to Europe was announced at the Best of Africa awards in London recently. Here is the full starting XI!
Click through the gallery above to see the Best of Africa's Dream Premier League XI Of Players Of African Origin Who Were Lost To Europe.
Over the years, the Premier League has been blessed with a number of players of African roots who later went on to represent European nations.
In a bid to promote the continent's culture in sport and other cultural activities, the Best of Africa awards sought to recognise a so-called dream team of European players in the Premier League whose heritage is imbedded in Africa.
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Four players of Congolese origins make the selection, including current France international Steve Mandanda, who spent a season at Crystal Palace, former Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany and Belgium's all-time leading goalscorer Romelu Lukaku.
The former Chelsea pairing of Marcel Desailly and Claude Makelele, of Congolese and Senegalese heritage respectively, also made the cut, as does legendary Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira, all of whom represented France at international level.
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Former Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, who was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents and elected to represent the Azzurri ahead of the Black Stars, partners Lukaku in the dream team's two-pronged attack.
What do you make of the Best of Africa EPL dream team? Let us have your thoughts by commenting in the section below.
