Sufianu Sillah Dibaga is an honest and dedicated young player; he was eager to demonstrate this on his social media channel after an impressive first-team debut on Saturday.
“I’m excited to keep working hard, improving every day, and contributing to the team’s success,“ he told his followers.
Sillah Dibaga already has a trademark goal
Coming through the Under-18s, Sillah Dibaga was a key player. In 39 appearances, he scored 11 times and racked up 11 assists.
His trademark goal has become cutting in from the left and hitting right-footed shots into the top right-hand corner. He has proven that he can sniff out a chance by pouncing on misplaced passes out of defence.
Having signed his first professional contract in the summer, Sillah Dibaga has scored twice for the Under-21s in Premier League 2. The first, away at Ipswich Town, was a composed left-footed finish after he ran through on goal.
The second, away at Chelsea, saw him cut in from the left before firing a right-footed shot low and hard into the bottom left-hand corner of the net.
Left out of the squad for the trip to Norwich on Friday, the youngster would have been aware of his inclusion in the senior squad earlier in the week. The first team coach had no hesitation in throwing him into the action.
Tonda Eckert has the luxury of working with the academy players and knows what each of them is capable of. As far as Sillah Dibaga is concerned, Eckert had been working on the winger's defensive skills, playing him as a wing-back in the Under-21s.
Sillah-Dibaga gets his chance to shine
The teenager made his senior debut in the FA Cup win over Leicester, replacing Sam Edozie after 62 minutes, and he did not hide.
The young winger was not afraid to express himself and showed what he can do, cutting in from the left and hitting the target with a right-footed shot soon after coming on.
Hugging the touchline, Sillah Dibaga frequently asked for the ball and ran confidently at defenders, freed from defensive duties in the 4-2-3-1 system.
James Bree's goal in extra time won it for the Saints, and Dibaga will be delighted that the team are through to the next round, where he may again be included in the squad.
A reward for hard work
Sillah-Dibaga's inclusion was just reward for his hard work. Eckert values attitude, and the youngster has a good one. He has learned a new wing-back role and listened to instructions. The club clearly believes in his talent, having offered him his first professional contract.
Against Leicester, he was direct and positive. He nearly got himself an assist when he cut the ball back perfectly for Cameron Archer. But Archer is out of touch at the moment, and he failed to take the chance.
Fin Azaz and Joe O’Brien-Whitmarsh also saw chances come and go after good work from Dibaga.
He created openings because he was brave enough to try things.
Grounded and grateful
After the match, Dibaga spoke on social media, and his words told you everything about him.
“I am absolutely delighted to have made my professional debut in a 2-1 victory in the FA Cup - a truly special moment I will never forget,” he wrote.
He thanked his family, friends, teammates, and coaches.
Sillah-Dibaga was born in Almería, a city in Andalusia, southern Spain, before moving to England at a young age to continue his football development. He and his family have committed a great deal already, and Saturday's debut was just reward for everyone who has supported his career so far.
Celebrating with the fans in the Northam stand after a fourth-round FA Cup win may become the highlight of this season, but there is much more to come in 2026-27.
Sillah Dibaga's pledge to work hard will be music to Saints fans' ears, who may have felt let down by the lack of effort by senior players earlier in the season.