Leeds United winger Noah Okafor has told Switzerland he will no longer represent the national team while Murat Yakin remains its head coach.
The 26-year-old was included in Switzerland’s World Cup squad but made only one appearance, coming on as a late substitute during the round-of-32 victory over Algeria. His selection followed a strong finish to the season, with Okafor scoring four goals in his final four matches for Leeds.
Okafor returned to the Switzerland setup in March after a 16-month absence, following a meeting with Yakin aimed at resolving their differences. The winger had previously criticised both the coach and Swiss football officials over what he viewed as a lack of communication during his omission from the squad.
Reflecting on the dispute in a later interview, Okafor acknowledged: “I know I didn’t do everything right.”
However, he has now chosen to step away from international football.
In a statement posted on Instagram, Okafor wrote: “Dear fans, these are the hardest words I have had to write in my career. After giving it careful thought, I have decided to withdraw from the Swiss national team until further notice.
“This has been an extremely difficult decision, but it is one I feel I must make now. Nothing has ever meant more to me than representing Switzerland.
“Whenever I wore this shirt, I gave everything I had on the pitch. I would have liked to continue playing for Switzerland and giving my all for our country, but in the current circumstances, I can no longer do so.
“I want to make one point clear: this decision is not about playing time. I recognise that I did not always handle everything correctly in the past.
“Young players make mistakes, and I have apologised for mine. But the situation has now changed.
“At the World Cup, too, I accepted difficult periods and continued to put the team first. Being there and representing my country was a huge honour.
“For a long time, I believed the circumstances would improve. A year after the European Championship, Murat Yakin travelled to England with members of his coaching staff to speak with me and clear the air.
“It was a respectful and constructive conversation. We were able to address misunderstandings and look ahead, and I was grateful to Murat Yakin for making that effort.
Noah Okafor has appeared in every Leeds match so far this season
“That was why I travelled to the World Cup feeling positive, highly motivated and determined to give everything for the team and for Switzerland.
‘All the more disappointing for me was what I experienced there. Not because I played little, but because of the way I was treated. For me, it was the most difficult time of my career so far.
Okafor emphasised that he was not concerned about his lack of minutes but alluded to a lack of ‘mutual respect’ and ‘trust’ from Yakin.
‘One thing up front: I know that some will think again now: “Oh, Okafor again, he’s just offended because he hardly played”,’ his statement continued.
‘But again: My decision has nothing to do with my playing minutes. I travelled to the tournament to support my team in the best possible way. On the pitch and off it.
‘Things happened that hit me deeply. Trust was broken. Promises were not kept. And when I was allowed to play against Algeria, even small mistakes far away from our goal were reacted to in a way that hit me deeply.
‘In the weeks after that, I thought a lot and decided for myself that I no longer want to play for the national team under the current coach. Murat Yakin is doing a great job and has achieved historic things with Switzerland.
Okafor has not always seen eye to eye with Switzerland boss Murat Yakin
‘The success proves him and his work right. And of course, I don’t want any special treatment from him. Only mutual respect and trust, but I do not see this foundation for the coming years.
‘I sincerely wish the team only the best. I am happy about every success of the team and think that we achieved great things at the World Cup. Many of my teammates are friends, and I will continue to root for them and support them.
‘I am grateful to Switzerland for everything I was able to experience. Playing for this country was and remains something very special. Believe me: Whenever I was on the pitch, I left my heart out there for this jersey. See you soon, Noah.’
The Swiss FA confirmed the news, saying in a statement: ‘Noah personally informed us today that he will no longer be playing for the national team for the time being. We respect his decision and wish him good luck and success with his club.’
