World Cup 2026: Yoane Wissa hails DR Congo’s historic Knockout stage qualification after Uzbekistan victory

DR Congo striker Yoane Wissa has expressed his excitement following his outfit historic qualification to the knockout stage of the 2026 World Cup tournament.

The Leopards achieved the milestone following an impressive victory over Uzbekistan in their final group-stage match, sealing qualification to the round 32 in memorable fashion.

Wissa played a decisive role in the crucial encounter, scoring twice as DR Congo produced a convincing performance to keep their World Cup dream alive.

Following the historic achievement, the forward expressed his delight and stressed the importance of the team’s collective effort throughout the campaign.

“I’m just one piece of the jigsaw,” Wissa said after the match. “The pressure was immense. There are things to improve on, but the most important thing is this historic qualification. Now we must savour the moment.”

The striker also praised his teammates, former players and future generations, insisting the achievement belongs to the entire nation.

“All the lads, the substitutes, those who have worn this shirt before and those who will wear it tomorrow should be proud. We must be proud of all Congolese people,” he added.

Wissa reserved special appreciation for the fans whose support, according to him, inspired the team during the tournament.

“Thank you to the people and the fans; without them, none of this would be possible. Today we’ve done it. We must savour this moment because it doesn’t come around every year.”

DR Congo’s qualification marks one of the biggest stories of the tournament so far as the African nation continues to impress on the global stage.

The Leopards will now turn their attention to a difficult round of 32 clash against England as they seek to continue their remarkable World Cup journey.