Congo Makes History at World Cup
ATLANTA — For over five decades, Congo’s most memorable moment at the World Cup was a disheartening 9-0 loss to Yugoslavia, which marked their only prior appearance at the tournament.
But things have changed. A new generation of players has made history by reaching the finals for the very first time, setting up a match against England.
“Carrying that burden was quite challenging,” reflected striker Yoan Wissa, who played a crucial role with two goals in Congo’s 3-1 victory over Uzbekistan on Saturday night.
Fiston Maiele added a spectacular second-half goal, sealing Congo’s unexpected progression alongside Cape Verde to the Round of 32.
“We reminded each other that giving up wasn’t an option,” Maiele stated.
Congo’s performance has been one of the surprises of this World Cup, especially given the tough group they had, which included Portugal and Colombia, led by Cristiano Ronaldo. Let’s be honest—history hadn’t favored them.
Last appearing as Zaire in 1974, they lost all three games, with that humiliating defeat by Yugoslavia still fresh in memories.
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Congo needed a win in their last Group K game to secure a spot among the best third-placed teams, following an unexpected draw with Portugal earlier in the tournament.
And they managed that with an incredible comeback after Eldor Shomrodov scored to tie the game in the 10th minute.
Coach Sebastien Desables expressed confidence: “We are a team that knows how to respond to challenges. Our determination remains strong.”
Though the pressure was evident in their first-half performance, the players rebounded strongly after halftime.
The game was level at 68 minutes when Wissa was fouled by Abdukkodir Kusanov, leading to a penalty. Wissa calmly converted, sending the Uzbek goalkeeper the wrong way.
Ten minutes later, Maiele regained the lead, deftly sneaking the ball past Nematov at the near post. Teammates rushed onto the field from the bench to celebrate in a chaotic, jubilant manner.
Wissa solidified the victory with a curling shot during stoppage time, putting the result beyond doubt.
Fans erupted in celebration long after the final whistle, singing and dancing through the stadium. The memories of 1974 seem to be fading fast.
“It’s been a tough journey, so I’m really going to enjoy this moment,” Wissa noted. “All the players, past and present, should be proud of this achievement. Thank you, Congolese people. In times like these, we came through. We did it!”
Congo has now become the eighth African nation to progress past the group stage in this tournament.
“This is a remarkable achievement that showcases the talent and spirit of Congo,” Desables remarked.
Meanwhile, Uzbekistan’s first World Cup appearance ended disappointingly with three losses. Coach Fabio Cannavaro commented, “I hope this experience will motivate us for the future.”
