Some top footballers plying their trade in elite clubs and national teams in Europe are of African descent.
Nigeria is among top African countries with nationals who are playing for other national teams in Europe. Former Everton and now Luton Town star Ross Barkley won 33 caps with England national team. Barkley is a Nigerian by descent. He was born to a Nigerian father Effanga and an English mother Barkley.
Prolific English winger Bukayo Saka, who is Arsenal's posterboy leading the Premier League show for the Gunners, is a Nigerian by descent but playing for England national team.
20-year-old Chelsea attacking midfielder Carney Chibueze Chukwuemeka is also of Nigerian descent but has been playing for England youth national team. Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund plays for Germany national team.
A lot of talented Nigerians, to mention but a few, have pit tents with other national teams mostly due to mixed ethnic backgrounds. For footballers in this category, flaunting their Nigerian roots when the opportunity surfaces has always been a given despite settling for international careers with other national teams.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji is a proud member of this group. Regarded as one of the best center-backs in the game, Akanji recently showed off Nigeria Super Eagles logo tattooed to his left arm in an apparent admiration and respect for his Nigerian heritage.
It is still unclear when the the Swiss footballer got the round symbol of the Nigerian national team soldered to his arm but the footage emerged shortly after Nigeria's stellar run to the 2023 AFCON finals where the lost to Cote D'Ivoire.
The Super Eagles pulled off a solid performance through the tournament, winning their eight silverware. Apparently, Manuel Akanji showed off his Super Eagles logo tattoo in solidarity with the Super Eagles and appreciation of their feat in the 2023 AFCON.
Manuel Akanji Biography
Manuel Akanji was born on July 19, 1995 to a swiss mother Isabel Akanji and Nigerian father Abimbola Akanji. He was the second child of and the first son of the family.
Akanji was raised in Neftenbach, Switzerland, where he was born. Akanji originally tried tennis, his mother'd favorite sport but taking a full-blown career in football. He started his career with FC Winterthur - a football outfit playing in the Swiss elite division.
Akanji rose through the ranks and made his first professional appearance for the club, playing for the reserve team from 2013 to 2014 before making his first senior appearance in 2014.
He joined a top Swiss side Basel in 2015 before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2018, where established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe.
He is currently plying his trade with Premier League and European giants Manchester City after joining the club in 2022 on a five-year contract.
Manuel Akanji parents
Manuel Akanji is of mixed background. His father Abimbola Akanji is a Nigerian while his mother Isabel is a Swiss. According to reports, Manuel Akanji's dad is a financial expert by profession while his mum is a former tennis player.
Nigeria is among top African countries with nationals who are playing for other national teams in Europe. Former Everton and now Luton Town star Ross Barkley won 33 caps with England national team. Barkley is a Nigerian by descent. He was born to a Nigerian father Effanga and an English mother Barkley.
Prolific English winger Bukayo Saka, who is Arsenal's posterboy leading the Premier League show for the Gunners, is a Nigerian by descent but playing for England national team.
20-year-old Chelsea attacking midfielder Carney Chibueze Chukwuemeka is also of Nigerian descent but has been playing for England youth national team. Karim Adeyemi of Borussia Dortmund plays for Germany national team.
A lot of talented Nigerians, to mention but a few, have pit tents with other national teams mostly due to mixed ethnic backgrounds. For footballers in this category, flaunting their Nigerian roots when the opportunity surfaces has always been a given despite settling for international careers with other national teams.
Manchester City defender Manuel Akanji is a proud member of this group. Regarded as one of the best center-backs in the game, Akanji recently showed off Nigeria Super Eagles logo tattooed to his left arm in an apparent admiration and respect for his Nigerian heritage.
It is still unclear when the the Swiss footballer got the round symbol of the Nigerian national team soldered to his arm but the footage emerged shortly after Nigeria's stellar run to the 2023 AFCON finals where the lost to Cote D'Ivoire.
The Super Eagles pulled off a solid performance through the tournament, winning their eight silverware. Apparently, Manuel Akanji showed off his Super Eagles logo tattoo in solidarity with the Super Eagles and appreciation of their feat in the 2023 AFCON.
Manuel Akanji Biography
Manuel Akanji was born on July 19, 1995 to a swiss mother Isabel Akanji and Nigerian father Abimbola Akanji. He was the second child of and the first son of the family.
Akanji was raised in Neftenbach, Switzerland, where he was born. Akanji originally tried tennis, his mother'd favorite sport but taking a full-blown career in football. He started his career with FC Winterthur - a football outfit playing in the Swiss elite division.
Akanji rose through the ranks and made his first professional appearance for the club, playing for the reserve team from 2013 to 2014 before making his first senior appearance in 2014.
He joined a top Swiss side Basel in 2015 before moving to Borussia Dortmund in 2018, where established himself as one of the best defenders in Europe.
He is currently plying his trade with Premier League and European giants Manchester City after joining the club in 2022 on a five-year contract.
Manuel Akanji parents
Manuel Akanji is of mixed background. His father Abimbola Akanji is a Nigerian while his mother Isabel is a Swiss. According to reports, Manuel Akanji's dad is a financial expert by profession while his mum is a former tennis player.