The Nigeria Football Federation has suffered another international recruitment setback, as AC Milan right-back Zachary Athekame currently thriving on loan at Ligue 1 club Lyon has officially been cap-tied by Switzerland.
The Geneva-born defender was eligible to represent Nigeria through his father. However, Swiss head coach Murat Yakin handed the 21-year-old his competitive senior debut in a 3–0 UEFA Nations League victory against North Macedonia. Athekame made an immediate impact, providing two assists for Zeki Amdouni.
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Under FIFA eligibility regulations, featuring in an official competitive senior fixture permanently ties him to the Swiss national team.
Athekame’s senior call-up came on the back of an impressive start to his campaign with Lyon, where he logged two goals and two assists across five Ligue 1 appearances.
He previously represented Switzerland 17 times at the U21 level and was an unused substitute in a World Cup qualifier in October 2025.
His commitment to Switzerland adds to a growing list of dual-nationality talents the NFF has missed out on, including Manuel Akanji, Noah Okafor, Simon Sohm, Isaac Schmidt, and Eseosa Aigbogun.
Conversely, defender Onyinyechi Zogg opted for Nigeria’s Super Falcons, though the Bern-born player retains dual eligibility.
