Leeds United loanee Isaac Schmidt who is eligible for Nigeria through his mother has revealed why he committed his international future to Switzerland citing a stronger connection to the country and a lack of contact from the Nigerian national team .
The decision of a footballer with dual nationality often sparks fervent discussion among fans and the case of Isaac Schmidt is no exception The Leeds United defender currently on loan at Bundesliga side Werder Bremen recently explained his choice to represent Switzerland on the international stage despite being eligible to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria .
Schmidt who was born in Lausanne Switzerland is the son of a Swiss German father and a Nigerian mother which made him eligible for both nations as well as Germany due to his fathers heritage However his international future has been firmly decided as he made a competitive cap tying appearance for Switzerland in a World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on September 8 2025 .
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The Connection to Switzerland
Speaking to German news outlet Bild Schmidt clarified the primary reason behind his commitment to the Swiss national team He stated that his decision was rooted in a stronger sense of connection to the country where he was born and raised .
“I have a strong connection to the country and have been there a few times” Schmidt said referring to Switzerland This lifelong familiarity and cultural ties played a significant role in his final choice .
No Contact from Nigeria
Perhaps more revealing for Nigerian football fans was Schmidts second key point the complete lack of contact from the Nigeria Football Federation NFF The right back confirmed that the Super Eagles had never reached out to him regarding a switch of allegiance or an invitation to the national team .
“But Ive never had any contact with the Nigerian national team” he revealed This lack of engagement from the Nigerian football authorities left the door open for Switzerland which successfully secured his international services .
Officially Cap Tied
The culmination of this decision came on September 8 2025 when the 25 year old made his competitive debut for The Red Crosses in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Slovenia a match Switzerland won 3 0 Schmidt came off the bench in the second half replacing Silvan Widmer That substitution officially cap tied him to Switzerland making him ineligible to represent Nigeria or Germany in the future .
His decision follows a trend seen with other players of Nigerian descent who ultimately chose Switzerland such as Manuel Akanji and Noah Okafor who were also eligible for the Super Eagles before committing to the Swiss national team .
Club Career and Heritage
Isaac Schmidt signed with EFL Championship club Leeds United on August 30 2024 on a four year contract after a move from Swiss Super League side St Gallen He then joined Werder Bremen on a season long loan for the 2025 2026 Bundesliga season His full middle name is Osayimori with Osas being an abbreviation he uses .
Despite the hopes of Nigerian supporters that Schmidt might follow in the footsteps of others who have switched allegiance to the African nation his decision was ultimately a personal one influenced by his upbringing national team engagement and personal connection to Switzerland .
Disclaimer:
The news information presented here is based on available reports and reliable sources concerning a professional footballers international career decision Readers should cross check updates from official sports bodies and news outlets .