Leeds United attacker Noah Okafor has confirmed that he will not represent Switzerland while Murat Yakin remains in charge, explaining that his relationship with the head coach has suffered an irreparable loss of trust.
The 26-year-old, who made his international debut in 2019, has collected 26 appearances for Switzerland. However, he played only 19 minutes at the World Cup after entering as a substitute during the team’s last-32 victory against Algeria.
Okafor issued a statement on Instagram on Thursday in which he insisted that limited playing opportunities were not behind his choice. Instead, he pointed to the treatment he believes he received from the present coaching staff.
“This choice is not connected to how many minutes I played,” Okafor wrote. “Certain events affected me greatly, damaged the trust between us and involved promises that were not honoured.
“After I was given the opportunity to feature against Algeria, the response to small errors made far from our own goal was extremely painful for me.
“I spent the following weeks carefully considering the situation and ultimately concluded that I do not wish to continue playing for the national side while the current coach is in charge.”
Okafor notified the Swiss football authorities of his decision on Thursday. A representative said the organisation accepted his choice and wished him success at club level.
Leeds boss Daniel Farke has offered his full backing to Okafor, who completed an £18m move from AC Milan in August 2025. Farke said the forward has found a supportive environment at the club and is expected to play an important role in the Premier League.
“He came to speak with me personally and outlined the reasons behind his decision,” Farke said. “I valued the fact that he discussed it with me in advance and made sure I understood the situation.
“Ultimately, this is Noah’s choice, and he must determine what is right for his career at this point. What I can say is that he has a place here where he feels settled and valued, and we regard him as a major player for our team.
“Any decision concerning his future in international football belongs entirely to him. I will not interfere, as this is a personal matter for Noah and his family to consider.”
Switzerland’s next fixture is scheduled for 26 September, when they visit North Macedonia in their first match of the 2026-27 Nations League campaign.
Yakin has managed the Swiss national side since August 2021.
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