Mbappe, Mourinho, Pogba, Others Shun Nigeria In African Summer Visits

Top football players and coaches are deservedly enjoying their summer breaks in different parts of the world after a long 2021-2022 season that ended in May

In addition to the leagues around the world came the international football that ended on June 14 with the World Cup playoffs, UEFA Nations League and 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers played.

As several world football stars embarked on holidays to various continents and nations to relax their muscles and have a feel of new climes, environment and cultures, there was a noticeable absence of these sporting heros in Nigeria unlike other supposedly big African countries.

Juventus bound midfielder Paul Labile Pogba who plays international football for France and won the 2018 FIFA World Cup is holidaying on his native Guinea.

Pogba, 29, was born in Lagny-sur-Marne, Seine-et-Marne, France to Guinean parents. He is a Muslim.

He has two older brothers who are twins – Florentin and Mathias – born in Guinea, who are also footballers and play for the Guinean national team.

Barcelona forward Memphis Depay is currently in Ghana where he has his roots alongside Arsenal’s Eddie Nketiah.

Another 2018 World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe is originally from Cameroon but he is in Morocco at the moment relaxing his muscles ahead of the 2022/2023 Ligue 1 season after his new £1 million a week deal with Paris Saint-Germain.

Mbappe is not alone on the choice of Morocco. N’Golo Kante, Riyad Mahrez, Camavinga, Dembele, Slimani, Bennacer and Benrahma are spending their holidays in the Maghrebs.

Even AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho (who has once visited Ilorin, Kwara state, Nigeria) is currently in Tanzania where he has been involved in humanitarian works.

Se other star players chose to travel to places like the United States, Spain and Asia.