from JEAN KASSONGO in Kinshasa, DRC
DRC Bureau
KINSHASA, (CAJ News) – THE Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) have added a long-awaited feather to their cap after qualifying for the knockout phase of the World Cup for the first time in their history.
The former Zaire, African champions in 1968 and returning to the global competition after a forgettable outing in 1974 in the then West Germany, have attained the feat after a 3-1 success against Uzbekistan at the Atlanta Stadium in the early hours of Sunday.
Yoane Wissa stole the show with a double.
For the Congolese to qualify for the knockout phase of the competition, they needed nothing short of maximum points against the Central Asian team, who needed a win by a huge margin to retain an interest in the tournament.
Hopes were initially dashed after they fell behind in the tenth minute as Eldor Shomurodov’s left-footed shot found the top right corner.
DRC were back in the contest in the 68th minute after Wissa won and converted a penalty with a right-footed shot to the bottom right corner, with Abduvakhid Nematov diving the wrong way.
Fiston Mayele’s close-range shot to the top left corner following a fast break turned the tables against Uzbekistan as The Leopards led for the first time.
Man of the Match Wissa had the final say in the early stages of added time after his right-footed shot from outside the box found the bottom right corner.
With the historic victory, DRC finish among the best third-placed sides in Group L, won by Colombia, ahead of Portugal.
Uzbekistan finished with the wooden spoon.
DRC, the first Sub-Saharan country to qualify for the tournament, and the largest by size in the region, are one of eight teams from the continent to progress to the last 32.
– CAJ News