Sunderland AFC midfielder Noah Sadiki played a pivotal role in DR Congo’s historic journey to the World Cup knockout stages, with the club hailing his performances as “a nation proud and memories to last a lifetime”. The 21-year-old earned his first start in the crucial 3-1 group-stage win over Uzbekistan that sent the Leopards into the last-32 for the first time in their history, at their first World Cup since 1974.
Sadiki made four appearances in the tournament, coming off the bench against Portugal and Colombia before his decisive start against Uzbekistan. He also started the Round of 32 clash against England in Atlanta on 1 July 2026, where DR Congo took a seventh-minute lead through Brian Cipenga but eventually fell 2-1. Sadiki described the Uzbekistan match as “a huge moment in our history”, adding, “It’s a dream. I think every player has this dream as a kid, to play in games like this at the World Cup.”
The midfielder’s rise has been rapid. Born in Belgium to Congolese parents, he earned his first senior cap in September 2024 and joined Sunderland from Union Saint-Gilloise for a reported £15 million. Head coach Sébastien Desabre transformed the national team after taking charge four years ago, guiding them to fourth place at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations before this summer’s breakthrough. Sunderland’s squad boasted around a dozen World Cup representatives across multiple nations, including Morocco’s Chemsdine Talbi and Paraguay’s Omar Alderete.
Sadiki’s club campaign was equally impressive. He made 35 appearances in all competitions as Sunderland finished seventh under Régis Le Bris, securing Europa League qualification. Alongside full-back Arthur Masuaku, who also started for DR Congo throughout the tournament, Sadiki’s international experience underlines the growing depth within the squad at the Stadium of Light.
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