At the 70th FIFA Congress held in September 2020 the congress voted to pass changes for eligibility in national teams.

Prior to this, the rules stated that players were tied to a national team for the rest of their international careers on the basis of a single appearance when they were younger. It meant that one appearance in a competitive match, including Nations League games, tied players to that country for life.

However, at the 70th Annual Congress, it was resolved that players were no longer tied to a national team on the basis of a single appearance. The rule change now allows players to switch nationalities if they have played no more than three competitive matches at the senior level prior to them turning 21, with no appearances for the first nation in a FIFA World Cup final match or continental finals.

In the ongoing 2022 World Cup in Qatar, quite a number of African players were seen representing non-African countries. The  takes a look at these African-born players making a mark on the global stage.

1. Ansu Fati

The 20-year-old plays as a forward for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team. He was born in Guinea-Bissau but chose to represent the Spain national team after gaining citizenship.

2. Alphonso Davies

Davies, 22, plays for the Canadian national team. He is a left-back or winger for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich. He was born in Buduburam, Ghana

3. Eduardo Camavinga

Eduardo Camavinga ( Sports Mole)

Eduardo Camavinga is a professional footballer who plays for the France national team. He is a midfielder for La Liga clubside Real Madrid. He was born in a refugee camp in Angola to Congolese parents but grew up in France.

4. Youssoufa Moukoko

Youssoufa Moukoko ( Bundesliga)

Youssoufa Moukoko  plays as a striker for Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund and Germany national team. The 18-year-old was born in Yaounde, Cameroon.

5. Danilo Pereira