Noah Okafor Refuses to Play for Switzerland Under Yakin

Leeds United forward Noah Okafor has declared that he will not represent Switzerland again under head coach Murat Yakin, citing a breakdown in trust with the current leadership. The 26-year-old has earned 26 caps for the Swiss national team since his debut in 2019, but he only played 19 minutes during the World Cup, coming off the bench in their last-32 win over Algeria.

In a statement on his Instagram account, Okafor emphasized that his decision was not related to his lack of playing time but rather due to feelings of mistreatment by the coaching staff. He stated, “Things happened that hurt me deeply.

Trust was broken. Commitments were not kept.” Okafor informed the Swiss FA of his decision on Thursday, and a spokesperson expressed respect for his choice.

Leeds United manager Daniel Farke has pledged support for Okafor, who joined the club from AC Milan for £18 million in August 2025, stating that they have a home for him and he is expected to be a key player in the Premier League.