Leeds United forward, Noah Okafor has announced that he will no longer play for the Switzerland national team while Murat Yakin remains in charge, revealing that his decision stems from a breakdown in trust with the head coach rather than any issue with playing time. 

The 26 year old made the announcement in a lengthy statement posted on his Instagram page on Thursday.

Okafor explained that his decision had nothing to do with how much he has featured for the national side, insisting instead that events during Switzerland’s recent World Cup campaign left him deeply hurt.

He said trust between himself and the coaching setup was broken and that commitments made to him were not kept. The forward also pointed to the reaction he received after coming off the bench against Algeria at the World Cup, saying that even minor mistakes made far from his own goal were met with criticism that affected him deeply.

The Leeds striker featured for just 19 minutes as a substitute in Switzerland’s last 32 win over Algeria at the tournament, taking his total appearances for the national team to 26 caps since his debut in 2019.

He said that after weeks of reflection following the World Cup, he made the decision for himself that he no longer wishes to represent Switzerland under the current manager. Despite the fallout, Okafor was careful to acknowledge Yakin’s achievements with the national side and wished both the coach and his former teammates well going forward.

The Swiss Football Association responded to the announcement on Thursday, confirming that it respects the player’s decision. A spokesperson for the association said Okafor had informed them that he would not be available for the national team for the time being, adding that they wish him continued success at club level. Okafor remains eligible to return to the Switzerland setup should circumstances change in the future.

The development comes at a difficult time for Yakin, who is expected to name his first squad since Switzerland’s World Cup exit ahead of their opening Nations League fixtures later this month, including a home game against North Macedonia and an away trip to face Scotland. Okafor, an 18 million pound signing from AC Milan last summer, has been in fine form for Leeds United this season, having scored eight league goals as the club secured survival following their promotion from the Championship.

Photo Credit: Getty Images