Noah Okafor has announced his withdrawal from the Switzerland national team under manager Murat Yakin. The 26-year-old Leeds United forward stated on Instagram on Thursday that he will not play for the side for the foreseeable future.
Okafor cited a profound breakdown in trust as the reason. "Things happened that hurt me deeply. Trust was broken. Commitments were not kept," the attacker said. He stressed it was not about playing time: "My decision has nothing to do with my playing time." The Swiss Football Association acknowledged the decision and wished Okafor success with his club.
The offensive player earned 26 caps for his country. At the ongoing 2026 World Cup, his most recent appearance was a 19-minute substitute cameo in the round of 32 win against Algeria. The Swiss side currently sits surprisingly atop their World Cup group with seven points from three games, holding a three-point lead over Canada. Their recent form of three wins, one draw, and one loss in the last five matches shows solid performances.
Murat Yakin's squad must now plan without Okafor. They are already missing two other experienced players in Rubén Vargas and Silvan Widmer. The next challenge is an away fixture against North Macedonia on September 26.
Okafor was an option in attack that is now off the table. Coach Yakin will have to rely on other players during the upcoming international break to continue the positive run. The team has scored seven goals and conceded only three in the current World Cup qualifying campaign. This season's squad list and all available players are listed in our squad section.
The association respects the player's personal decision as the team prepares for the important away match in Skopje.
