AC Milan's Zachary Athekame Chooses Switzerland Over Nigeria

Zachary Athekame, a 21-year-old defender currently on loan at French club Lyon from AC Milan, has officially chosen to represent Switzerland after making his senior international debut in a UEFA Nations League match against North Macedonia, which ended in a 3-0 victory for Switzerland. This appearance has permanently tied him to the Swiss national team, ending Nigeria's hopes of securing his commitment.

The Nigeria Federation (NFF) had been monitoring Athekame, who qualifies for Nigeria through his father, but his debut capped his eligibility. Athekame had previously earned 17 caps for Switzerland's U21 side and had been an unused substitute during a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia in October 2025.

His impactful debut included assisting Zeki Amdouni for two goals. This decision marks another setback for the NFF, which has struggled to recruit players of Nigerian descent in Europe, having also failed to secure commitments from other players like Manuel Akanji and Noah Okafor.