Swiss national team manager Murat Yakin has officially stated that defender Manuel Akanji will no longer serve as a designated penalty taker for the squad. This decision follows a missed attempt during the team’s World Cup Round of 16 penalty shootout against Colombia.
Akanji, who is of Nigerian descent, was the only Swiss player to miss his shot, which sailed high over the bar. Despite this error, the team progressed to the quarter-finals to face Argentina thanks to a key save by goalkeeper Gregor Kobel and a successful final kick from Rubin Vargas.
Yakin noted that Akanji personally requested to be removed from penalty duties after experiencing similar struggles in previous high-stakes tournaments. While acknowledging the player’s frustration, the coach praised Akanji’s leadership and insisted that the miss does not diminish his importance to the team.
Akanji, who was born to a Nigerian father and a Swiss mother, frequently honors his roots, famously sporting a tattoo of the Nigerian Super Eagles crest. He remains a key figure in Yakin’s defense as Switzerland prepares for their upcoming match against Argentina.
