- Newcastle forward Wissa sends passionate message
- Wissa helps DR Congo qualify for World Cup
- Comments draw Newcastle comparisons
Newcastle United and DR Congo forward Yoane Wissa has posted a passionate message on social media following the African nation’s World Cup qualification in the early hours of Wednesday.
The striker played the initial 90 minutes but was taken off in favour of Brian Cipenga at the start of extra time. DR Congo went on to beat Jamaica 1-0 courtesy of a goal in the 100th minute by Axel Tuanzebe.
Wissa has faced a rather torrid season for Newcastle. Eddie Howe will be hoping his international exploits can spark an upturn in form when he returns to Tyneside.
Wissa Pioneering Achievement
The achievement marks the first time DR Congo has ever qualified for the World Cup. The country qualified for the tournament in 1974 but competed under the name Zaire.
In celebration of the qualification, the Democratic-Congolese authorities have declared a national holiday.
Wissa and the Leopards faced a long road to qualification. They missed out on automatic qualification behind Senegal before beating Nigeria, which took them to the intercontinental playoffs.
This is where they jubilantly sealed their fate with the victory over Jamaica that will be remembered for years to come.
Former Newcastle United player Chancel Mbemba was also involved in DR Congo’s win, playing the full 120 minutes on the way to victory.
Wissa Takes to Social Media
In the aftermath of the game, Wissa took to social media and unleashed a statement filled to the brim with emotion.
The most touching passage of his statement read, “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, and humiliated, but we have always faced adversity head-on.
“Thank you to the previous generations, because we are your children; you shaped us, and you fought for better conditions and for us to focus on our football. This victory is also yours. This victory is global.”
Wissa comments draw Newcastle similarities
Ironically, Wissa’s comments could just as easily be related directly back to the current situation at Newcastle.
The online discourse surrounding the club has been largely negative following the heavy defeat to Barcelona and the subsequent timid derby-day defeat at St James’ Park.
These games, paired with the otherwise lacklustre season, have led to condemnation of performances from the Geordie faithful.
In many ways, Wissa has been at the forefront of that. The forward has struggled to find any sort of consistent minutes in a Newcastle shirt since his injury-hampered start.
This has many wondering why the club paid £55m for a player who is neither being utilised nor showing any spark in the minutes he has accumulated.
However, Eddie Howe’s men can still turn the tide and push toward an unlikely European spot by the end of the season.
Should Wissa’s performances and involvement rise in tandem with that, another tear-jerking Yoane Wissa post would be more than welcomed by supporters of Newcastle United.
