Yohan Ouissa left his name in the history of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) by scoring his first goal in the team’s history in the group stage of the World Cup held in Houston against Portugal, one of the favorites to win the tournament.
The 29-year-old Newcastle United forward made the most of a corner kick five minutes into the second half of Wednesday’s game and his header found the back of the goal, creating history as the Democratic Republic of Congo returned to the World Cup for the first time in 52 years.
Recommended stories
list of 4 itemsend of list
Joao Neves’ goal in the sixth minute tied the score for Portugal, sending Portuguese fans into a frenzy of celebration that turned Houston Stadium in the United States into a sea of red.
Wissa’s goal was also celebrated at the stadium and around the world, with social media users sharing videos of Portuguese and Congolese fans celebrating the historic moment by one of Africa’s most high-profile players.
Five years ago, when Ouissa was recovering from a severe acid attack that left her with severe chemical burns and required emergency eye surgery, she may never have dreamed of this moment.
On July 1, 2021, Ouisa opened the door to a woman who tried to kidnap her daughter and threw acid in her face. The assailant attacked the woman with acid the next day, and was identified on July 3.
She was sentenced to 18 years in prison in January 2025 after facing the possibility of life in prison.
It took Wissa six months to recover from the assault. The shock left him reeling, but he decided to continue his career, playing professional football for France’s FC Lorient.
“Despite being affected physically and mentally, Yohan immediately showed his determination to succeed,” Lorient manager Christophe Pélissier, who visited Yohan in hospital the day after the attack, told the BBC last year.
“What struck me about him was his strong will and never giving up.”
Pierre-Yves Hamel, who played with Ouissa at Lorient, also praised him.
“He never complained after the attack,” Hamel told the BBC. “He wanted to move on immediately and being able to blossom today is a fair reward for his efforts.
“Once Ioan has an idea, he does everything he can to make it happen, no matter how long it takes.”
The words took on even deeper meaning after Ouissa became the nation’s talisman at the World Cup, when Congo defeated Portugal 1-1 in Houston.
Previously, Neves’ goals were accompanied by a unique emotion, with the Portuguese carrying the memory of his late teammate Diogo Jota throughout the tournament.
Jota, who died in a car crash along with his brother last summer, was honored on the stadium’s screens ahead of the Group K opener with his parents in attendance. The team wore wristbands with Jota’s name on them.
Lifelong trauma, sleeplessness
Ms Wissa gave emotional testimony in court as her alleged assailant, 36-year-old Laetitia P., was on trial in France.
He said liquid was splashed on his face and his wife called emergency services who told him to take a shower and wash his eyes.
“At the hospital they told me my eyes were burning. Every hour someone had to come in and wash them out. It was a nightmare,” he told the court hearing, according to ESPN UK.
“From then on, every time I heard a noise, I panicked. The only thing that kept me going was that my children were safe. I had surgery on both eyes, but the doctors said I would have to continue using eye drops for the rest of my life. It took six months for me to fully regain my sight.
“If I hadn’t received treatment right away, the outcome would have been much worse.”
A month after the incident, while still recovering, Wissa, who eventually joined Brentford on a four-year contract, revealed the psychological trauma he had suffered throughout his life.
“Since then, I’ve become a recluse. I can’t stand being around people I don’t know,” he said.
“I don’t express my love as much as I used to. I instinctively look behind me when I walk. And I can’t sleep when I’m alone at night.
“My children often ask me what I did to my face, but they are too young to tell me what happened. I was offered surgery, but I refused because this is part of my personal history.
“My wife and I had to see a psychologist, but she was suffering from depression. We don’t know what fate awaits us.”
