Congo reaches World Cup knockout stage for first…
ATLANTA — For 52 years, Congo’s standout World Cup reminiscence was a humiliating 9-0 rout at the fingers of Yugoslavia in its only other look on soccer’s largest stage.
Not anymore. Not after a new era of gamers made historical past by advancing to the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time and set up a conflict with England.
“The weight on our shoulders was hard to bear,” said striker Yoane Wissa, whose two objectives helped Congo rally to a 3-1 win against Uzbekistan on Saturday night time
Yoanne Wissa scores on a penalty shot for the first of his two objectives in Congo’s knockout stage-clinching 3-1 win over Uzbekistan in the World Cup on June 27, 2026 in Atlanta. GWN
Fiston Mayele was also on goal in a dramatic second-half comeback as Congo joined Cape Verde as another shock qualifier for the spherical of 32.
“We told ourselves we can’t give up,” Mayele said.
Congo has been one of the shock tales of this World Cup, with few anticipating it to emerge from a group that included Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal and Colombia. And historical past was hardly on its aspect.
Congo’s earlier look was when it competed as Zaire in 1974 and misplaced all three video games, including the rout by Yugoslavia.
It’s a fully different story now.
2026 World Cup News
After holding Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal to a shock 1-1 draw earlier in the match, Congo needed a win in its closing Group Ok recreation to advance as one of the best third-place groups.
And it did just that with a breathless combat back after trailing to Eldor Shomurodov’s lobbed aim in the tenth minute.
“We’re a team that knows how to respond when we concede a goal; we keep fighting with determination,” coach Sébastien Desabre’s said.
If the weight of the event was evident in Congo’s first-half efficiency, the resilience of its gamers proved irresistible after the break.
The recreation was stage in the 68th when Wissa was introduced down by Abdukodir Khusanov for a penalty.
Wissa picked himself up and despatched Uzbekistan goalkeeper Abduvohid Nematov the fallacious method by rolling the ball into the underside nook for the first of a late flurry of objectives.
Yoane Wissa (20) and his Congo teammates rejoice after their World Cup win over Uzbekistan. Molly Darlington / GWN
Mayele put Congo forward 10 minutes later when flicking past Nematov at the close to post and was mobbed teammates and even substitutes, who raced off the bench and across the sphere to be a part of in the wild celebrations.
There have been even more joyous scenes when Wissa put the outcome past doubt in added time with a curling shot into the underside nook.
Fans continued celebrating long after the ultimate whistle, singing and dancing in the stadium concourses. The reminiscences of 1974 fading fast.
“We’re going to savor this moment because it’s been tough,” said Wissa. “All the guys — the substitutes, those who’ve worn the jersey before, and those who’ll wear it tomorrow — we should be proud. Thank you to all the Congolese people; it’s for moments like these that we do what we do. We did it!”
Congo turned the eighth African nation to advance from the group stage at this match.
“It’s quite an achievement. We showed a good image of Congo,” said Desabre.
Uzbekistan’s debut at the World Cup ended in three straight defeats.
“I hope this tournament will give us big experience. I hope this experience will give us more motivation for the future,” said coach Fabio Cannavaro.
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