The defenders were both born in Europe to African fathers and European mothers.
Ake’s father was from Ivory Coast and his mother is Dutch while Akanji was born to a Swiss mother and a Nigerian father.
Ake highlights support needed to reach top of the game
Ake is a Dutch international, born in The Hague in the Netherlands, while Akanji plays for Switzerland – where he was born more than 28 years ago in a town called Neftenbach.
The pair have played for some of Europe’s biggest clubs – including Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund and FC Basel – before arriving at City.
Now they’re team-mates and Treble winners as part of Pep Guardiola’s wildly successful City squad.
Here they learn more about each other’s routes to the Etihad Stadium as one of our many pieces that will mark Black History Month, designed to recognise and honour the achievements of Black people across society, throughout October.
In order to reach the top of the game, Ake and Akanji acknowledge the role of all those around them who have helped them along the way.
Click on the above video to watch the conversation in full…
