No doubt, Qatar2022 World cup which come to an end on Sunday being 18th December 2022 has been eventful.
France National Football team may have lost the gold mental to Degenerio of Argentina but their successes in the last two decades worth attention.
Thorough investigation revealed that there is no racism in France National team like other European teams because 90 % of the players are Africans.
There is no denying the fact that the composition of France National Football team is a combination of many football stars from Francophone speaking countries in Africa.
This combination of stars in France National Football team is made possible by the principle of assimilation adopted by France Authority.
What is this principle of assimilation and how does it help France National Football team?
” The concept of assimilation in French colonial discourse was based on the idea of spreading French culture to France’s colonies in the 19th and the 20th centuries.
Colonial subjects living in French colonies were considered French citizens as long as French culture and customs were adopted”.
That also meant that they would have the rights and duties of French citizens”
However, in and around academic palace, the meaning of assimilation has been greatly debated.
One possible definition stated that French laws apply to all colonies outside France regardless of the distance from France, the size of the colony, the organization of society, the economic development, race or religious beliefs.
“A cultural definition for assimilation can be the expansion of the French culture outside Europe”.
Arthur Girault published Principes de colonisation et de Legislation coloniale in 1885, which defined assimilation as “eclectic”.
Its ideal, he considered “the constantly more intimate union between the colonial territory and the metropolitan territory”.
He also wrote that all military responsibilities of a French citizen also apply to the natives of the colonies.
Examples of assimilation in practice in the colonies were in Senegal’s Four Communes: Gorée, Dakar, Rufisque and Saint-Louis.
The purpose of the theory of assimilation was to turn African natives into Frenchmen by educating them in the language and culture and making them equal French citizens.
The residents of the Four Communes were referred as “originaires” and had been exposed to assimilation for so long that they had become a “typical French citizen… he was expected to be everything except in the colour of his skin, a Frenchman.”
Later, French gained more ground with the addition of more colonies such as Mali, Benin Republic Guniea Bissau, Cameroon and many more.
Note, my intention as the Author, Sani Michael Omakoji, of this article, is not to bore you with the lists of Colonies France has conquered using “assimilation principle” but to say to what extent the principle has helped France National Football team.
A look at France’s National Football team, it is a statement of fact that 90 % if not 100% of the French team are Nationales of other countries.
For example the football hub of France National team that has deadly attackers, compact midfield and technically sound defense are led by the trio of Cameroonians : Kylian Mbappe, Aurellion Tchouameni and William Sallba.
Similarly, we also have the duo of a rising profile defender, Ibrahima Konate and a sensational left winger, Ousmane Dembele both from Mali.
Notwithstanding that Ousmane Dembele was a set up that caused France early two goals against Argentina before sensational Mbappe equalised within two minutes, it doesn’t erase the fact, that France National Football team is of African dominance.
X-raying the France National Football team further, other notable Africans in the current France National Football team are: Jules Kounde ( Benin ), Eduardo Camavinga ( Angola ), Kingsley Coman ( Guinea ), Youssouf Fofana ( Cóte D’Ivoire ), Dayet Upamecano ( Guinea Bissau ), Mattéo Guendouzi ( Morocco ), the lights of Randal Kolo Muani, Steve Mandanda, Axel Disasi all from Congo not to mention the hosts of many African players in France National Football team who are out there injured.
How was/is this made possible for these stars from different Nations in Africa continent gain their pride place in France National Football team?
Well, like I stated from abinitio, the principle of assimilation adopted by France Authority has given a level playing ground to the Francophone speaking Nations to easily gain entrance, recognition and acceptance into France National Football team.
Perhaps, what will you say about British who adopt the principle of association but continue to discriminate and forbid those countries they have colonised ?
Well is a topic for another as we continue on the composition of France National Football team aided by principle of assimilation.
This principle of course has aided France to gather the best players from the aforementioned countries which has culminated into successes since 1998 till date.
No wonders, many football followers have described France National Football team as a semi African Team.
France may not have won FIFA world cup in Qatar 2022 but their impact of clinching Silver Medal as Defending champion of 2018 is worth attention and a good record …
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