France won the 2018 World Cup, yet some claim that Africa won. This half-joking statement stems from the fact that France’s soccer team is predominately black. 

Trevor Noah, the host of The Daily Show in America, brought up the World Cup and began chanting, “Africa won the World Cup.” Critics accused him of his poor humor and racial joke.

TONIGHT: Congratulations to Africa on winning the 2018 Men’s World Cup! pic.twitter.com/ly1wxU1VzT

— The Daily Show (@TheDailyShow) July 17, 2018

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro commented, “The French team looked like an African team, in fact, it was Africa who won. France won thanks to African players or the sons of Africans.” 

Even former President Obama chimed in the conversation. During a commemoration speech for Nelson Mandela in South Africa, he said, 

“Just ask the French football team that just won the World Cup… Not all of those folks looked like Gauls to me. But they’re French! They’re French.” 

While some people are lightly taking this subject as a joke, knowing that France truly won the World Cup, some people are tired of hearing it. 

French  professional basketball player, Evan Fournier, tweeted the following:

Stop it with this "Africa won the world cup for France" non sense.
Is it Africa winning when the USA win Gold medals in the Olympics ?
Is it Europe winning when South Africa win in Rugby ? And we can go on and on. Cut the BS. We are all french deal with it

— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) July 17, 2018

The French soccer team has remained silent on the issue for a while. Just recently, they released a statement about how they take pride in their country. Paul Pogba, France’s talisman, said, “That’s France. There are many origins here. That’s what makes France beautiful.”

Benjamin Mendy, the team’s defensive player, requoted a tweet from Sporf, who had tweeted a list of the players’ names with their native flags. Mendy relisted all the players but placed a French flag next to every player— reaffirming that their diverse team represents France. 

Pogba
Tolisso
Mendy
Umtiti
Rami
Fekir
Kimpembe
N’Zonzi
Matuidi
Mandanda
Sidibe
Kante
Lloris
Hernández
Dembele
Mbappe
Griezmann
Giroud
Lemar

fixed

— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) July 17, 2018

Pogba
Tolisso
Mendy
Umtiti
Rami
Fekir
Kimpembe
N’Zonzi
Matuidi
Mandanda
Sidibe
Kante
Lloris
Hernández
Dembele
Mbappe
Griezmann
Giroud
Lemar

fixed

— Benjamin Mendy (@benmendy23) July 17, 2018

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