Switzerland defender, Manuel Obafemi Akanji, has disclosed that Nigeria never invited him to play for the senior national team.
Akanji who deflected home Swedish Emil Forsberg’s low strike in the 66th minute in the 1-0 loss on Tuesday told TheCable after the match at the Saint Petersburg stadium that he never regretted not playing for the Super Eagles.
The 22-year-old who saw his dream come through in the colours of Switzerland said there was never a time his father told him to play for Nigeria.
“Nigeria never called me to come and play for them. So, it was never a question to be answered because Switzerland called me to play for them and I accepted,” Akanji told TheCable.
“No regret at all for not playing for Nigeria. We came into the next round, Nigeria didn’t. And it was my decision. I don’t know if I would have played for Nigeria if I had been invited or not. Really I don’t know.
“I don’t have to think about if they called me because they did not call me. My parents never discussed with me where I should play or not. They just told me to do whatever I want to do. They always support me all the time no matter what I do.”
But can he, at least, communicate in his native language?
“No, I can’t speak Yoruba at all. Only my father can,” he said.
The Borussia Dortmund defender, however, rues Switzerland’s ouster at the 2018 FIFA World Cup to Sweden.
“It’s difficult I have to say after the game because I think we tried everything to do but it was difficult,” he said.
“Their defense was very good, they played as a team, they attacked together.
“I think we did the same kind of thing but in the end, I deflected the ball with the side of my leg into our net.
“That hurt because I tried to clear the ball when it came towards my direction but it went into the goal and we still had some chances after the goal we conceded. But it was hard because it was like every shot we made, everybody blocked or was on the line.”
Akanji applauded the sportsmanship attitude of the Swedish players who consoled him afterward.
“After the game, some of the Swedish players came to me to tell me that I played a good tournament and that the future is all mine,” he said.
“I am sure this will give me confidence but in this moment it is sad because we lost the game. I will keep looking into the future and keep working hard, and I hope it’s not going to be my last World Cup.
“It was nice of the players to have approached me after the game and wishing them good luck in the next round.”
Akanji joined Borussia Dortmund from Basel on January 15, 2018, during the winter transfer window for a reported fee of 18 million euros for a four-and-half-year deal. (The Cable )
