Okafor's boycott forces Switzerland to lose Premier League talent

Leeds United striker Noah Okafor, 26, has announced he will not represent Switzerland while Murat Yakin remains manager, issuing a lengthy Instagram statement that cites broken promises and a loss of trust after a season in which he netted eight Premier League goals for Leeds.

Statement cites broken promises

Okafor posted a lengthy Instagram statement in which he complained that promises had been broken and trust betrayed by the national set‑up.

International record and World Cup involvement

Getty Okafor has scored two goals in 26 appearances for the Red Crosses since his debut in 2019, and was selected for Switzerland’s World Cup squad in North America.

He was an unused substitute at the 2022 World Cup, made three bench appearances, then again sat on the bench for all five Euro 2024 fixtures, and in the most recent World Cup he featured for only 19 minutes against Algeria while remaining on the bench on five occasions.

Yakin had previously questioned Okafor’s attitude and impact, a dispute that resurfaced before this latest boycott.

“Dear fans, these lines are the hardest I have written in my career so far,” Okafor wrote. “After careful consideration I have decided to step back from the Swiss national team until further notice.”

He added that the decision “has nothing to do with playing minutes” and that “trust has been broken, promises were not kept, and the way I was treated at the World Cup was deeply hurtful.”

Okafor says he will reconsider only if Murat Yakin is no longer in charge, leaving his international future uncertain.