Swiss Forward Noah Okafor Under Fire For Celebrating With the Nigerian Flag

Swiss Forward Noah Okafor Under Fire For Celebrating With the Nigerian Flag
Credit: Iconsport

Noah Okafor celebrated the Austrian title with his club, RB Salzburg, with the Nigerian flag despite choosing to play for the Swiss national football team.

Swiss professional footballer Noah Arinzechukwu Okafor, who has Nigerian roots, posed with the Nigerian and not the Swiss flag in his photo. Noah Okafor shared his remembrance photos from the event on his official social media platforms.

 

RB Salzburg had already won the Austrian title before their 3-2 victory over Klagenfurt at home, but the players didn't receive the trophy until after the last league game of the year.

Over 15,000 spectators joined RB Salzburg in their celebration in the Red Bull Arena, and Noah celebrated with a Nigerian flag in front of the club fans.

Okafor's Nigerian Roots

In the early 1990s, Okafor's father immigrated to Switzerland from Nigeria. As a result, the forward chose to represent Switzerland over the Nigeria Super Eagles.

Mixed Reaction

Swiss fans demonstrated their happiness over Okafor's post, with one of them writing, “Seriously, where is the Swiss flag? You're embarrassing us.”

Meanwhile, some fans were confused why the forward was posing with a Nigerian flag and not a Swiss one, not knowing that the player is of Nigerian origins.

“I thought he was already playing for Switzerland? Can he still play for Nigeria?” asked one fan.

Nigeria Super Eagles faithful were supportive of the player for proudly posting a photo with a Nigerian fan. Some Nigerian fans called him “Our own,” while some congratulated him on winning the Austrian championship. “It’s all love here; congratulations, champ” and “Boy, congratulations, and we are proud of you,” said two fans.

Transfer Requests

Some comments in Okafor's post were unrelated to the matter, as some football fans asked him to join Dortmund while others pleaded with him to join AC Milan.

“Noah, come to Dortmund, you and Adeyemi together” and “And now off to Dortmund,” said two separate fans.

Even though the 23-year-old hasn't played since April 16, he still has a share of the championship. Okafor had seven goals and three assists in 21 games before suffering a metatarsal injury. Off the back of his best-ever scoring season last time out, where he netted 14 times in all competitions, Okafor started the 2022-23 campaign in fine form with nine goals, including one against Milan in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

Even though his contract is still in effect until the end of the summer of 2024, it seems like his participation in the title ceremony was a probable farewell to the fans. The forward is linked to Inter Milan, AC Milan, and Borussia Dortmund. Borussia Dortmund is especially keen, keeping tabs on the Swiss striker with Nigerian origins for a year now.

In terms of position, Okafor can play either as a centre-forward or out on the wing, making him a versatile attacking player. He is also good at dribbling with the ball at his feet and has plenty of pace to burn.

Dayot Upamecano, Erling Haaland, and Karim Adeyemi are just a few of the tremendous athletes RB Salzburg has produced over the past several years. Despite being relatively young, all the players have established themselves as household names in football.

Following in the footsteps of prominent FC Red Bull Salzburg alumni, like Erling Braut Haaland, Patson Daka, and Takumi Minamino, the 22-year-old is anticipated to depart Salzburg next summer.

Okafor would be a wise acquisition for any team, given his rumoured price tag of roughly €30 million. He is blessed with tremendous finishing ability and excellent mobility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Noah Okafor

Who is Noah Okafor?

Noah Arinze Okafor (born May 24, 2000) is a Swiss professional footballer. He plays as a forward for the Austrian Bundesliga club FC Red Bull Salzburg.

Does Noah Okafor play for Nigeria?

Noah Okafor chose to represent the Swiss national football team.

What are Noah Okafor's origins?

Noah Okafor's parents are Nigerians. They immigrated to Switzerland in the 1990s.

This article was most recently revised and updated 1 year ago

Chandan Pandey
Chandan is a passionate writer, editor, and marketer with a love for football. He has bylines in leading online publications and has worked with renowned sports brands like The Olympics, Fox Sports Asia, and the Indian Super League (ISL). As for the unimpressive part, he loves Chelsea.
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