THE CONGOLESE CONNECTION
After a great win against Chelsea on Sunday, Sunderland look back to their best, with Jules Ahoka stealing the show alongside Noah Sadiki. The future of Sunderland and Congolese football looks to be in safe hands.
Starting with one of our many stars of last season, Noah Sadiki. Making 33 Premier League appearances for the Black Cats, Sadiki played a vital role in what was an impressive midfield three alongside Granit Xhaka and Enzo Le Fee.
He may not have been the creative midfielder of the trio, but he was defensively solid and an excellent ball carrier. Most notably, the ground he covered last season was something we had rarely seen before, ranking among the Premier League’s highest players for distance covered alongside his captain, Xhaka.
Following an excellent first season in the Premier League, attention quickly turned towards the Congolese international, with the likes of Chelsea and Man United reportedly interested in him. Having delivered numerous impressive performances against some of the leagues best midfielders, Sadiki certainly belonged among them.
At just 21, he continues to perform at an incredible level, demonstrating maturity, commitment and passion for the club. His work rate and ability has been a joy to watch week in, week out. It was a great sight to see him score the winner in Portugal, with Ahoka getting the first, something that felt most deserving for him.
Regis Le Bris is clearly a big fan of Sadiki, and so are we. Watching him in red and white has been a pleasure, and hopefully, we can enjoy many more years of his performances at the Stadium of Light. With his Congolese compatriot Ahoka alongside him, Sunderland could be building something very special in the midfield.
What has to be considered the surprise package of the season so far is the big man, Jules Ahoka. The 20-year-old Congolese midfielder has been a joy to watch in red and white and has quickly won Sunderland fans over with his natural ability. A tall, physical midfielder, who possesses impressive technical and creative qualities, seemingly gliding through the midfield with ease. Despite standing at 6ft 2in, he covers an incredible amount of ground, with Sunderland jokingly claiming that 71% of Earth’s surface is covered by water, the rest is covered by Sadiki and Ahoka, it certainly feels like it in that midfield.
Perhaps the biggest surprise is that, before arriving at Sunderland, Ahoka had made just four senior appearances. Only two years ago, he was playing in the second division of Congolese football, making his rapid rise all the more impressive. The way he moves around the pitch and looks so comfortable on the ball makes it difficult to believe he has had so little senior experience. There is undoubtedly plenty more to come from this young midfielder.
He is yet to really put a foot wrong for Sunderland. Although he was substituted at half-time against Dinamo Zagreb, I felt the decision was harsh on him. Nevertheless, he has shown Le Bris just how important he can be to this team and the freedom he can provide for the rest of the midfield. His ability to sit deep as a number six, while also showing he can operate further forward as an eight, is fantastic to see. With such a demanding fixture schedule, it is reassuring to know we have someone capable of fulfilling both roles to a top standard.
Despite the language barrier, Ahoka is continuing to learn English and adapt to life on Wearside. Having Sadiki alongside him in midfield, someone he can communicate and build a connection with, will undoubtedly make that transition much smoother.
For now, the priority is continued development. He is still young and has taken his opportunities brilliantly so far. However, with Xhaka’s injury situation still uncertain, Ahoka has an opportunity to establish himself even further as a fan favourite on Wearside and make a name for himself in Sunderland’s midfield. Following a deserved Man of the Match performance against Chelsea, the future looks incredibly exciting for the big man.
Looking ahead to the future of both Congolese midfielders, I would love to see them succeed at Sunderland. With Ahoka potentially taking up the mantle from Xhaka, hopefully for many years to come, the possibility of building a midfield partnership that will be remembered for years is an exciting prospect. Together, they could become a formidable duo capable of dominating the middle of the park.
Hopefully, Jules Ahoka will soon be knocking on the door for a first-team international opportunity. The U21’s Congo captain has once again been called up for his side, and surely it cannot be long before he gets his chance to establish himself alongside Sadiki once again, this time for country.
I believe we could see Sunderland at their best with these two in the midfield with ELF. They complement each other brilliantly, cover an incredible amount of ground and are both exceptionally talented footballers. Could there be a third hidden Congolese talent out there to complete the midfield trio?
