A Leeds United forward has been at the centre of a row that has led to a lengthy absence from international football.
An in-form Leeds United star could be set for a surprise return to international duty after talks were held to bring an end to a long-running dispute.
Summer signing Noah Okafor has not appeared for Switzerland since a 3-2 Nations League defeat against Spain in November 2024 and there have been claims questioning the attitude shown by the Whites star during his side’s Euro 2024 campaign. The former AC Milan winger went public with his feelings on the situation in November last year and that drew criticism from one high-ranking official within the Swiss FA.
Director Pierluigi Tami said: "The door is open to everyone. But everyone needs to know their role. Murat Yakin certainly doesn't want to experiment this November. After that, we can resume discussions with Noah Okafor. But now is not the time. And I told Noah that personally on the phone. That doesn't mean we can't use Noah in the national team in the future. We can certainly make good use of his qualities.
"Noah had a difficult year at Milan and Napoli. Now at Leeds, he's slowly getting back into form. We're certainly keeping an eye on that. But right now, we want to focus on the upcoming matches. I don't want this situation to become a topic of conversation within the team. If a player has a problem, he needs to speak up and can't just wait and hope that someone will contact him. But again, it's about the present moment."
However, Okafor’s performances for the Whites have caught the attention of Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin as he prepares to name his squad for next month’s friendly double-header with Germany and Norway. The Whites star will head into Sunday’s FA Cup fourth round tie with Birmingham City looking to score for a third consecutive game and his upturn in form is well-timed with this summer’s World Cup finals in North America rapidly approaching.
Switzerland head coach Murat Yakin has addressed Okafor’s situation once again and has revealed he held an ‘honest, clarifying and constructive conversation’ with the versatile forward and believes that has put a ‘good foundation’ in place for a possible return to the international fold.
Speaking to Blick about Okafor’s situation, Yakin said: “We saw a strong performance from Noah, in which he showed what he’s capable of. Afterward, we had an honest, clarifying, and constructive conversation. This is a good foundation for Noah’s potential return to the national team.”
What has Noah Okafor said about his international future?
Leeds United are due to visit Tottenham Hotspur in May.placeholder image
Leeds United are due to visit Tottenham Hotspur in May. | Michael Regan/Getty Images
Speaking to The Athletic after his latest snub, Okafor said: “Since then, I never spoke with the coach, not even a phone call or a message, also with the (Swiss FA’s) sporting director Pierluigi Tami. They don’t even call me or ask me. For me, it makes no sense. I can say it makes me sad because they don’t even text me or call me to see how I am. For example, when I moved to Leeds, ‘Congrats’ or something like that, because I play now in the best league in the world.”
Continue Reading