Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa celebrated with thousands of supporters in the DR Congo capital following their World Cup qualification.
Yoane Wissa partied with thousands of his compatriots in the DR Congo capital to celebrate their recent World Cup heroics.
Axel Tuanzebe’s strike last Tuesday earned a 1-0 win over Jamaica - booking a spot on the biggest stage of all for the first time since 1974. Wissa played 90 minutes before being hooked as the game entered extra time.
Wild scenes erupted across the country as qualification was confirmed, with DR Congo ignoring FIFA regulations to plan an emotional homecoming. Rules state that national sides must release players to their clubs within 48 hours of the full-time whistle.
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However, the Congolese FA kept their stars - including Newcastle United striker Wissa - for a further six days. A special event took place on Monday, with fans lining the streets of Kinshasa - the nation's capital - in celebration.
The team were greeted by the president - Felix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo - who congratulated them on their achievement. It is understood that Newcastle were aware of Wissa’s situation, with Eddie Howe’s men not resuming action until this weekend.
However, other European clubs were not as impressed by DR Congo flaunting the FIFA rules. Lille president Olivier Letang was incensed as former Toon defender Chancel Mbemba could not return in time for the Northern Derby against Lens.
“The Congolese Football Federation unilaterally decided to keep the players until Monday, even though FIFA regulations are clear,” he said. “Players must return to their clubs within 48 hours of the match.”
“The player was supposed to be back on Thursday. The case is already with FIFA’s Disciplinary Committee, as this is a very dangerous precedent for all clubs that pay players’ salaries. The relevant bodies are very sensitive to this matter and have already written to the Congolese Football Association.”
Yoane Wissa emotional message after DR Congo qualify
Wissa posted an emotional message on Instagram after DR Congo beat Jamaica to ensure World Cup qualification. He wrote last week: "Today we have just realised how difficult things are to achieve without hard work and perseverance.
“Breaking a negative spiral, breaking a wheel much bigger than ourselves, has been the most important and trying test in our history. We will never play the same way again, we will never sing this national anthem the same way again. We are not perfect, but we have been mocked, ridiculed, humiliated, but we have always faced adversity head-on.
"Thank you to the previous generations, because we are your children, you shaped us, you fought for better conditions and for us to focus on our football. This victory is also yours. This victory is global. Yesterday I cried tears of joy because of hardships in my life I've endured and today is also a personal consecration.
“Thanks to little Yoane Wissa who suffered injustices, insults, rejections, but who has always had love, or never gave up and forged his brain and heart against everything. Thank you to my family for accompanying me, helping me, loving me (and) protecting me so today we can live together what we never thought would happen in our life.”
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