No other Swiss attacker has scored more than one goal in Europe’s top-five leagues this season, so far. Yet, Leeds United star Noah Okafor was left out of Switzerland’s side.
Isaac Schmidt got the call-up for Switzerland, but Okafor was omitted and not for the first time this term. It appears that there is an issue between Leeds’ new £18m man and the Switzerland boss, Murat Yakin.
Switzerland are in action against Gabriel Gudmundsson’s Sweden and Jaka Bijol’s Slovenia this week, two crucial 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Yet, Yakin has allowed an incident in 2024 to prevent Okafor’s call-up.
Having moved to Milan in the summer of 2023, Okafor was called up by Switzerland for Euro 2024. But the now-Leeds attacker failed to play a single minute at Euro 2024, and Swiss media have explained why.
How Leeds feel about Noah Okafor amid Switzerland issues
Reports this week state that incidents of ‘poor training performances’ and ‘bad moods’ saw Okafor taken out of the Swiss side. Okafor responded by going above Yakin to speak to director Pierluigi Tami.
That angered Yakin and he has not called up Okafor since. Now, Okafor is in Dubai for warm-weather training and Graeme Bailey has told LeedsUnited.News what Leeds think about Okafor at the moment.
“From a Leeds perspective, they’re happy with Okafor. I’ve only heard good things. They’re happy, they think he has really upped the quality in the squad. No concerns from what I’m told. Pretty happy.”
Noah Okafor is adapting to the Premier League at Leeds
A first start against Fulham saw Okafor prove rusty, before he scored in his second outing in the 3-1 win over Wolves. But Jon Newsome criticised Okafor for losing the ball, saying Leeds can’t play passengers.
Daniel Farke has since commented on Okafor’s ability to keep possession, telling him at half-time against Wolves that he needs to be stronger. Against Bournemouth and Spurs, Okafor has largely improved.
| Name | Games (Starts) | Duels won | Minutes between duels won |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brenden Aaronson | 7 (4) | 33 | 12.03 |
| Sean Longstaff | 7 (5) | 36 | 13.22 |
| Noah Okafor | 5 (4) | 23 | 13.39 |
| Dominic Calvert-Lewin | 5 (4) | 23 | 15.52 |
| Jayden Bogle | 7 (7) | 37 | 16.62 |
| Anton Stach | 7 (7) | 36 | 16.86 |
| Joe Rodon | 7 (7) | 36 | 17.50 |
| Gabriel Gudmundsson | 7 (7) | 34 | 17.91 |
| Ethan Ampadu | 5 (4) | 23 | 19.04 |
| Pascal Struijk | 7 (7) | 19 | 33.16 |
Indeed, Okafor is high for duels won per minute among the rest of the outfield players who have started Leeds’ last four games. Okafor is getting better, but it seems unselfish that he has been overlooked.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
