African football managers have abandoned their protectionist policies in order to build up high-performing national teams. They are adopting liberal strategies that encourage the departure of players abroad, only for them to return for matches in which the national team plays. Footballers of African origin who have grown up in Europe are increasingly being “brought back”. Although this recourse to the “diaspora” offsets the waste of talent brought about by the shortcomings in local training, this practice hinders the structuring of national football.