South African comedian, Trevor Noah has been accused of racism after making a joke that "Africa won the 2018 World Cup" because of the number of black players in the French national squad.
The TV Host and Comedian made the joke during The Daily Show, saying that the victory was for Africa because most of the players have African root.
In his words last Monday: "Africa won the World Cup.I get it, they have to say it's the French team. But look at those guys. You don't get that tan by hanging out in the south of France, my friends. Basically, if you don't understand, France is Africans' backup team. Once Senegal and Nigeria got knocked out, that's who we root for."
At an event to celebrate police day, last Monday, Nicolas Maduro, the President of Venezuela, said: "The French team seems like the African team, in reality Africa won, the African immigrants who arrived in France."
"How much have they despised Africa, and in the football World Cup France won the trophy thanks to African players or the sons of Africans."
Trevor Noah's remarks generated international anger when French football fans, including former reality star, Martin Medus, blasted him on Twitter for his comments
He wrote: "You're a f****** racist. Those people are French and p***** to always be reminded of their background. They fight hard to tell people they are proud French people and yet you disrespect them calling them African. Are the Lakers an African team?"
Elise Frank also added: "So basically, Trevor, all the African-Americans in the US are just Africans, right? Know that as a french of Algerian, German and Spanish descent, I find it insulting. We are all French, we are one people. Ask the players, they'll tell you they're proud Frenchmen!"
One man wrote: "This is so racist to think that because they are black they are not French. They claimed their love of France. You denied them the right to be French? Is this what you want to deliver to all afro americans also? 98% of the players were born in France. Only two players were born in Africa, but they came at the age of two. So they've grown up in France."
Below is a short biography of the French players:
Paul Pogba: Born and raised in France
Pogba's family is from Guinea. His twin brothers Florentin and Mathias Pogba have played for the African Nation's national squad
Kylian Mbappe: Born and raised in France
Kylian was brought up in the Parisian suburb of Bondy with his family. His mother is Algerian and his father is Cameroonian.
His 12-year-old younger brother, Ethan,is a member of the under-12 team at Paris Saint-Germain (PSG).
Samuel Umtiti: Raised in France
Umtiti was not born in France but moved to the nation from Cameroon when he was two.
Umtiti was given the chance to play for Cameroon but it is reported he never saw it as an option, instead choosing to try and make the French squad.
Nabil Fekir: Born and raised in France
Fekir was born in Lyon, France to Algerian parents. He once elected to represent the African nation but later changed his mind.
Fekir’s father, Mohamed has been vocal in the past about wanting his son to play for Algeria but Fekir opted to represent the nation of his birth.
Djibril Sidibé: Born and raised in France
Sidibé was born in Troyes, France, where he lived with his parents and three sisters. The family is originally from Mali.
Florian Thauvin: Born and raised in France
Thauvin was born in Orléans, France. Thauvin was a regular in the junior national squad and represented them at the under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels.
Benjamin Pavard: Born and raised in France
Pavard was born in Maubeuge to French parents. He plays for VfB Stuttgart as a defender.
N'Golo Kante: Born and raised in France
Kante's parents came to France from Mali in 1980 and the footballer grew up in a small flat in the district of Rueil-Malmaison.
He bravely turned up to training at JS Suresnes alone as a child - determined to play football.
Presnel Kimpembe: Born and raised in France
Presnel Kimpembe was born in Beaumont-sur-Oise, France, to a Congolese father and a Haitian mother. His nationality is French-Congolese.
The player has 43 appearances for Paris Saint German after joining the club's junior squad aged ten.
Steve Mandanda: Raised in France
Former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Steve Mandanda is nicknamed 'Frenchie' by his family after choosing to play for the national squad, instead of the Congolese team.
He was born in Kinshasa but moved to France aged two. He has three younger brothers, all of whom are goalkeepers, including Parfait, a Congolese international player.
Lucas Hernández: Born in France, raised in Spain
Hernández was born in Marseille, France while his French father Jean-François played for Olympique de Marseille. The family moved to Spain when he was four.
The footballer plays for a Spanish team, Atlético Madrid.
Blaise Matuidi: Born and raised in France
Blaise Matuidi was born in Toulouse, France to Angolan parents.
Matuidi's parents fled Angola in the 1980s when the country's civil war was raging. They arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo soon afterwards, and from there headed to France. Matuidi was raised up in a poor neighbourhood but was a talented player from a young age.
The footballer is said to have visited Angola many times.
Alphonse Areola: Born and raised in France
The Filipino parents of Alphonse were working in the French capital, Paris, when they had their son.
Areola has been part of France's youth teams since 2008.
Steven N'Zonzi: Born and raised in France
Steven Nzonzi was born in Colombes, France. French-Congolese N'Zonzi had to chose, in 2012 whether he would accept a call to play for The Democratic Republic of Congo and go onto the Africa Cup of Nations - or hold out to see if he would be called up for France.
He stuck with his birth nation and was eventually called up.
Antoine Griezmann: Born and raised in France
Antoine Griezmann was Mâcon to a Portuguese mother and a German father.
His father Alain, a town councilor is from Munster, Germany.
Ousmane Dembele: Born and raised in France
Ousmane Dembele was born in Vernon, France. His mother is of Senegalese and Mauritian while his father is from Mali.
When he joined Rennes at the age of 13, his mother siblings moved to Brittany with him.
Corentin Tolisso: Born and raised in France
Corentin Tolisso was born in Tarare in France. His father is from Togo qualifying him to play for the national team.
Tolisso had previously acknowledged his ties to Togo but was loyal to France, stating that 'I was born here and grew up here.'
Thomas Lemar: Raised in France
Thomas Lemar is from the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe in the southern Caribbean Sea. The family migrated to France while Lemar was young.
Olivier Giroud: Born and raised in France
Giroud was born in Chambéry, France. He began his career at Grenoble in Ligue 2. Giroud is Italian since both of his grandmothers are from the country.
Huge Lloris: Born and raised in France
Hugo Lloris was born in Nice. His father is Catalan.
Adil Rami: Born and raised in France
Adil Rami was born in Bastia, France. He debuted professionally for Frejus in 2003. Rami's parents are Moroccan, they live in Corsica.
Benjamin Mendy: Born and raised in France
Benjamin Mendy, the Manchester City player was born in Longjumeau France. Mendy first played for France as an under-16. His family come from Senegal.
Raphael Varane: Born and raised in France
Varane's nationality is French Martinique. His father is from the Caribbean island of Martinique while Varane was born in Lille, France.
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