2.10.2025
Manuel Akanji said he is ‘proud’ of his Nigerian roots and to prove it he has a tattoo of the Super Eagles on his left arm.
Akanji who is born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother is on loan at Inter Milan after a successful spell at Manchester City, said he might have chosen to play for his motherland, he always had Nigeria in his heart.
“This is the eagle, from the Nigerian national team, with the football under it. It’s something I carry with me,” he told Inter TV
“Obviously, I play for the Swiss national team, but I’m still really proud of being Nigerian. I could only make one decision, but they are still with me all the way.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to Nigeria. It’s hard for me to go back because I don’t have a break in the winter, and summer is the rainy season, so you never really know what you’re going to get, but when I was young, I went there three or four times.”
Akanji has played 73 times for Switzerland, and he is among the most experienced Swiss players.
His experience and quality make him crucial to Switzerland’s bid to appear at next summer’s tournament.
Akanji...