Leeds' Okafor says he won't play for Swiss again under Yakin

What the report says

Leeds United forward Noah Okafor has said he will not play for Switzerland again while Murat Yakin remains head coach, citing a breakdown in trust with the national-team leadership. BBC Sport reported that the 26-year-old, who has 26 caps and made his Switzerland debut in 2019, announced the decision in a statement on Instagram.

Okafor said his choice was not about selection or playing time, but about how he felt he had been treated. He referred to hurt caused after his brief appearance at the World Cup, when Switzerland beat Algeria in the last 32, and said commitments had not been kept. The Swiss Football Association was informed on Thursday and said it respected his decision.

The issue matters because Okafor is an established international and a recent signing for Leeds, who brought him in from AC Milan in August 2025 for £18m. Yakin has led Switzerland since August 2021, and the team’s next scheduled match is away to North Macedonia in the opening round of the 2026-27 Nations League. More broadly, the case highlights tensions that can arise when a player’s relationship with a national-team coach deteriorates, although BBC Sport did not report any wider dispute beyond Okafor’s statement.