Noni Madueke claims he wins every shooting competition in the England team hotel – and the Arsenal winger believes that relentless competitive edge is exactly what will carry the Three Lions to World Cup glory this summer.
“It’s every man for themselves, when we do those shooting competitions,” Madueke said of the basketball games played in Kansas City, where England are based ahead of their knockout campaign. “And, um, I win all the time!”
“Noni Madueke says he wins all basketball shooting competitions, believes his excessive confidence can fire England to World Cup glory.”
The 22-year-old, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea for £52m, helped the Gunners win their first title in 22 years before earning a spot in England’s World Cup squad. Now he is part of a unique situation: club and country teammates with Bukayo Saka, battling for a place in the same England XI.
“You have to have that confidence, that excessive confidence in your ability because at the end of the day, alongside your teammates, and on that pitch it is down to you to deliver,” Madueke added. “So whatever gets you in that mind frame to be able to do that. I feel like that’s good.”
Madueke insists the intensity is balanced with downtime – playing card games like “Wolf” and staying in the air-conditioned hotel to escape the blistering Kansas City heat. “We play games for sure. We’re very competitive naturally,” he said. “But I’ve not been out in Kansas City at all. It’s too hot!”
Twelve months ago, he was in Atlanta playing for Chelsea against LAFC in the Club World Cup. Now he is in the same stadium where England will face DR Congo on Wednesday – and he expects the roof, open or closed, to make little difference to the conditions.
“It makes no difference, to be honest with whether it’s open and closed. It’s great for us. I think it’ll be about 19, 20 degrees, so perfect,” he said.
Madueke acknowledges that England have struggled against low blocks so far in the tournament, but he is confident they can adapt. “It’s been a great 12 months,” he reflected. “Winning the league with Arsenal was great, and then being able to play for my country at World Cup is, I think, the pinnacle.”
As he and Saka prepare to potentially face each other for a starting spot, Madueke’s unwavering belief remains undimmed. “It should be strange,” he admitted, but the Arsenal stars’ unique blend of club harmony and national ambition may be exactly what England need to end their 60-year trophy drought.