Manual Akanji is among the players who make football seem very easy. This player is always at ease when playing as a defender, whether for Manchester City or the Swiss national team. However, one cannot truly appreciate who Manual Akanji is without appreciating his family background because his career story has everything to do with two different cultures, two parents, and an incredible support system.

Who are Manuel Akanji’s parents?

Abimbola and Isabel Akanji are the parents who form the team responsible for this remarkable football success story that brings together multiple cultures. Abimbola is Manuel’s father, a Nigerian financial professional who migrated to Switzerland. However, there is another interesting fact about him: he is a passionate football fan. While playing football in his leisure time, he inspired Manuel, who loved watching him play and dreaming of becoming a footballer.

Manuel and his sister tried to emulate their father’s skills while playing football in their garden, imagining themselves on the fields of the world’s largest stadiums. Isabel is a Swiss woman who used to be a tennis athlete. Together with her husband, she raised three kids: eldest sister Michelle, who was also an athlete; Sarah, who now plays football for FC Winterthur; and Manuel, the youngest and only son.

What is the ethnicity of Manuel Akanji’s parents?

This is where the Akanji story gets really interesting. Manuel was born in Neftenbach, Switzerland, to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father. His father, Abimbola, is of Yoruba ethnicity from Nigeria. That mix of Swiss precision and Nigerian resilience? It’s baked right into Manuel’s DNA. And he wears it proudly. On his left arm, there’s a tattoo of an eagle from the Nigerian national team, with a football underneath it.

“This is the eagle, from the Nigerian national team, with the football under it. It’s something I carry with me,” Akanji once said, pointing to the ink. He’s made it clear that while he chose to represent Switzerland internationally, his Nigerian heritage remains a central part of his identity. “Obviously, I play for the Swiss national team, but I’m still really proud of being Nigerian,” he explained. “I could only make one decision, but they are still with me all the way.” That’s a young man who knows exactly where he comes from.

Inside Manuel Akanji’s relationship with his parents

Manuel Akanji has never been shy about acknowledging the influence his parents have had on his life and career. His father, Abimbola, passed on his love for football by playing the game himself, while his mother, Isabel, brought her own competitive spirit from her days as a tennis player.

Akanji has often described his family as the foundation of his success, crediting their encouragement and values for shaping both the footballer and the person he has become. His father’s passion for football and his mother’s athletic background instilled discipline, resilience, and a drive for improvement. Those qualities continue to define Akanji every time he steps onto the pitch, whether for club or country.

With Switzerland now preparing for a Round of 16 showdown against Colombia at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Akanji will once again carry the responsibility of leading the team’s defense in one of its biggest matches of the tournament. As always, his parents will undoubtedly be among his biggest supporters, cheering him on with the same pride they have shown throughout his journey. For all the league titles, domestic cups, and European success he has enjoyed, Akanji’s greatest source of strength has always been the family that believed in him from the very beginning.