Noni Madueke, Arsenal winger, don dey live im dream for 2026 FIFA World Cup as England prepare to face DR Congo for di first knockout round. Di Round of 32 match go happun on Wednesday by 5pm UK time, and di young star say im dey hungry for more.
“E be dream come true to compete for World Cup,” Noni tell media on Tuesday. “I dey grateful for di opportunity. Di first objective don achieve, so I dey happy and I dey look forward to di knockout stages now.”
Di 22-year-old winger, wey dey im first World Cup, believe say im fit help England hunt down dia first major title for 60 years. “You must feel like you fit step up,” e yarn. “You be top player, you dey here for reason. You dey play for your country on di biggest stage, and you must get excessive confidence for your ability. Knockout football na where e dey, so I dey try to be my best for dat. At di end of di day, alongside your teammates on dat pitch, e dey down to you to deliver.”
DR Congo no be pushover. Di African side dey resilient and well-disciplined, and dem fit set up similar to Ghana wey hold England to goalless draw for group stages. Noni feel say di test go do dem good. “I feel say every team get difficulty with opposition wey set up 11 players for 30 metres of space,” e explain. “E no easy to break down. We don see oda top nations struggle as well. E just be part of football now. When you play England, naturally di opponent go get defensive approach because of di quality for our team. I expect difficult game, for sure. When you reach dis stage of World Cup, you no fit take any opposition lightly. Dem go get dia strengths and qualities. Di game go definitely be difficult, and we go dey ready from start.”
One big advantage wey England get na dia depth for attack. Manager Thomas Tuchel don dey happy to turn to im bench throughout group stages, and Noni don be part of dat rotation — two starts and one substitute appearance for im first major tournament. “I feel say you must always dey at highest level, because you know say you get top player wey dey wait and bite at your heels to try enter team,” Noni yarn. “Dat type of healthy competition dey good, but playing for Arsenal and England, you no really need anybody else to keep you at highest level; you know say dat na requirement.”
Di Arsenal connection strong for dis England team. Noni and im clubmates dey push each oda. “Normally e suppose be small strange, but e no be,” e say. “I feel say e no affect our relationship. We want di best for each oda when each oda play, because dat mean if e play well, I play well, den Arsenal and England get better chance of winning. I feel say dat winning feeling dey linger. E great to take Premier League title into tournament as big and prominent as World Cup. E definitely fill you with confidence.”
As Noni dey yarn for press conference, im Arsenal teammate Gabriel Martinelli bin net late winner for Brazil. “For sure, I dey happy for am,” Noni talk with smile. “I hope e continue to do extremely well, just not if dem play us!”
