Kenya Sport

Switzerland Includes In-Form Sion Forward Boteli in Nations League Roster

Switzerland Calls Up Winsley Boteli After Strong Start

The Swiss national team, which reached the World Cup quarterfinals, has given a first senior call-up to 20-year-old forward Winsley Boteli from Sion. Boteli’s impressive form early in the season has attracted attention from Champions League clubs like Galatasaray and Porto.

Last month, Boteli scored a hat trick against Ajax during the Conference League qualifying playoffs. So far this season, he has netted 12 goals in just 14 matches.

National Allegiance and New Faces

Boteli recently confirmed his commitment to Switzerland's national team after interest from Congo’s federation, a country where he has family ties and which advanced to the World Cup round of 32.

Alongside Boteli, Switzerland coach Murat Yakin also selected 20-year-old Parma defender Sascha Britschgi for the first time. The 25-player squad is set for Nations League matches versus Scotland, Slovenia, and North Macedonia.

Key Players Return and Rising Talents Included

Captain Granit Xhaka is back following a strong World Cup showing and will extend his record to 152 appearances for Switzerland. The Sunderland midfielder turns 34 shortly after the Nations League opener on September 26 against North Macedonia.

Forward Breel Embolo, who was controversially sent off in the World Cup quarterfinal loss to Argentina, is included after moving to Major League Soccer’s Atlanta United.

Another uncapped player, 21-year-old center back Zachary Athekame, who is on loan at Lyon from AC Milan, returns to the squad.

Geneva Connection in the Squad

Athekame and Boteli join other squad members with roots in Geneva’s Servette youth system: World Cup standout Johan Manzambi, Denis Zakaria, and Zeki Amdouni. Together, they have only made six appearances for Servette's senior team. Zakaria, now captain at Monaco, played all six games in the Swiss second division during the 2014-15 season.

On the same day as the squad announcement, 20-year-old Manzambi shared an Instagram photo with Athekame showing them as children.

Nations League Schedule

  • September 26: Switzerland vs. North Macedonia (away)
  • September 29: Switzerland vs. Scotland (away)
  • October: Switzerland hosts Slovenia and North Macedonia in Lucerne for consecutive home fixtures

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