Congo made history Saturday by advancing to the World Cup knockout stage for the first time with a thrilling 3-1 comeback victory over Uzbekistan, setting up a Round of 32 matchup against England.
After trailing 1-0 early following Eldor Shomurodov's goal in the 10th minute, Congo responded with an inspired second-half performance. Yoane Wissa scored twice, including a penalty in the 68th minute, while Fiston Mayele added the go-ahead goal to complete the turnaround before Wissa sealed the victory in stoppage time.
The result marks a dramatic turnaround for Congo, whose only previous World Cup appearance came in 1974 when the nation, then competing as Zaire, lost all three matches, including a 9-0 defeat to Yugoslavia. This tournament has seen Congo emerge as one of its biggest surprises after advancing from a group that included Portugal and Colombia. A 1-1 draw against Portugal earlier in the competition left Congo needing a victory over Uzbekistan to secure one of the tournament's best third-place qualification spots.
Players and coaches credited the team's resilience after overcoming the early setback. Congo maintained its composure after falling behind and took control during the second half, sparking emotional celebrations from players, coaches, and supporters after the final whistle.
The victory also continues a strong showing for African teams, with Congo becoming one of nine nations from the continent to reach the knockout stage.
For Uzbekistan, its first-ever World Cup appearance ended with three consecutive defeats, though the experience was viewed as an important step in the nation's continued development on the international stage.
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