Tanzania winger Tarryn Allarakhia has become the first Wealdstone FC footballer to play at an Africa Cup of Nations after starting against 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morrocco.
Allarakhia, who has mixed Indian and East African heritage, is also the first British South Asian to play at a Cup of Nations in the modern era.
Sky Sports News is awaiting a response from the African Football Federation (CAF) to see if another British South Asian has ever played at the tournament in its 67-year history.
England’s Football Association was also contacted, but they do not have any records of a British South Asian playing at an Africa Cup of Nations.
Allarakhia hails from Redbridge in east London, which is home to more British South Asians than any other borough in London.
The 26-year-old began his journey in football at the Leyton Orient academy, before going on to play senior football at clubs across Essex including Aveley, Maldon and Tiptree, and Colchester United.
Allarakhia was signed by then-Crawley Town boss Harry Kewell in 2018, before departing for Woking three years later following a season-long loan at Wealdstone.
National League side Wealdstone snapped him up on a permanent basis in the summer of 2022 following his departure from Woking.
Former Stones defender David Sesay, who is now at Eastbourne Borough, was called up by Sierra Leone for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations but did not get an opportunity to play.
Allarakhia came up against Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah on his international debut away at Egypt last week after Sky Sports News broke the story that he had been included in Tanzania’s squad for the Africa Cup Nations.
Zambia and two-time AFCON champions DR Congo are the other teams in Group F, alongside Tanzania and Morrocco.
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