Premier League star Okafor's coach levels serious accusations at Yakin
On his Instagram profile, the 26‑year‑old winger Noah Okafor, Premier League star at Leeds United, published a lengthy post in which he announced his withdrawal from the Swiss national team and leveled serious accusations against coach Murat Yakin. Over the years he emphasized that the decision had nothing to do with his playing time, but stemmed from broken trust and unkept promises.
Serious Accusations and Withdrawal
During the recent 2026 World Cup, the tournament held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, Switzerland reached the quarter‑finals before being eliminated by Argentina. Okafor featured in the round of 16 match against Algeria, and in the other five games he spent the entire playing time on the bench. He criticised that even minor mistakes in the game against Algeria were punished in a manner that deeply affected him.
“For me, this was the most difficult period of my career so far,” Okafor wrote. “After careful consideration I have decided to withdraw from the Swiss national team until further notice. There has never been anything greater for me than playing for Switzerland.”
Okafor explained that the decision had nothing to do with his playing time, but was due to the broken trust and unkept promises. At that time he felt that talks with national coach Murat Yakin were bringing no solution. “Things have happened that have deeply affected me,” he emphasized.
Respect and the Future of the Swiss Team
Despite the accusations, Okafor wished national coach Murat Yakin and the squad all the best for the future. He acknowledged that Yakin had achieved historic feats, but stressed that mutual respect and trust must form the basis for the coming years. Under the current circumstances, however, he does not see that foundation.
He still feels deep emotions towards the Swiss national team, but he emphasized that he would still love to play for Switzerland in the future and give everything for the country, should the conditions change. He concluded by saying that he will continue to support Switzerland as long as there is a respectful coexistence.
In recent years the 26‑year‑old winger had enjoyed a strong season at Leeds United, which gave him a good feeling and plenty of motivation for the World Cup. However, this positive form curve was eclipsed by the experiences in the tournament.