Misery for Yoane Wissa | OneFootball

You have to really feel for Yoane Wissa.

At the start of September he got his wish and secured a move to Newcastle United.

Also at that point, the striker was looking forward to qualifying for the 2026 World Cup finals with DR Congo.

They were hot favourites to top their qualifying group and automatically qualify, which would mean a first ever World Cup finals appearance for DR Congo (and Yoane Wissa).

On Friday 5 September, Yoane Wissa had scored in a 4-1 win over South Sudan. On Tuesday 9 September it was the key match, top of the group DR Congo playing their third last group match against closest rivals Senegal. A win for DR Congo and they’d be guaranteed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup finals, a draw and they would be all but guaranteed to still finish top and qualify, unless a shock result in either of their final two group games.

Crazy scenes in Kinshasa for that match on 9 September against Senegal, with (at least!) 80,000 packed into the stadium for that massive group match for World Cup finals qualification, many thousands of fans locked out as DR Congo looked to make sure of being in those 2026 finals.

In their World Cup qualifying group, only the top side of six qualifies. There are nine groups in African qualifying and apart from those topping each group, only one other potentially qualifies, with the best four group runners-up going into play-offs and then one of the four will advance to the inter-confederation play-offs to eventually play for a spot at the finals.

A perfect start for DR Congo against Senegal as Bakambu gave them the lead on 26 minutes. Then seven minutes later, Newcastle United’s Yoane Wissa making it 2-0, sparking wild celebrations. Papa Gueye though giving Senegal hope before half-time when making it 2-1. Eight minutes after the break and Chelsea’s Nicolas Jackson equalising.

DR Congo still in control of the group though and still 2-2 when Yoane Wissa was forced off with what turned out to be a bad knee injury. A really rough game and the Newcastle striker on the receiving end of some poor Senegal challenges.

The clock ticking down and then with only three minutes to go, nightmare for Yoane Wissa and his teammates, as Pape Matar Sarr grabbed a dramatic late winner for Senegal.

Yoane Wissa had gone from looking forward to his Newcastle United debut (having missed only three Premier League games through injury in the last three seasons) and DR Congo heading surely to the 2026 World Cup finals top of the group and automatic qualifiers…

To instead ending up with bad injury that would see him ruled out for Newcastle United until at least November, whilst automatic progress to the 2026 World Cup finals with DR Congo hanging by a thread.

The final two rounds of group matches have now played out and this is how DR Congo’s group has ended up…

Yesterday (Tuesday), DR Congo won their final group match 1-0 against Sudan, but then needed Senegal to lose at home against Mauritania, which was never going to happen. Instead Senegal hammered them 4-0 to guarantee their place at the 2026 finals. The same day as England guaranteed their place.

Misery for Yoane Wissa and such rotten luck these past five weeks.

There were nine groups in African qualifying and the nine group winners have qualified for next summer. For Yoane Wissa and DR Congo their hopes hang by a thread, along with Gabon, Cameroon and Nigeria, they are one of the four best runners-up in their groups. Those four teams meet in November to play semi-finals and a final if getting through, the winner from the four African countries then gets a place in the inter-confederation play-offs where the African country reaching that far would then need to win further matches to qualify for the 2026 finals.

Safe to say that this is a massive longshot now for DR Congo and Yoane Wissa.

Here’s hoping Yoane Wissa is fit for the start of November for Newcastle United and DR Congo, a striker determined to make up for lost time and opportunity.

This is the October 2025 international schedule for Newcastle United players:

Thursday 9 October

England 3 Wales 0

Anthony Gordon with an excellent first half, as did most of his teammates. England roared into a 3-0 lead after only 20 minutes and then as the game went on, they coasted to victory and countless subs made. Gordon the only one of the front six to play the full game, whilst Dan Burn an unused sub.

Friday 10 October

South Korea 0 Brazil 5

A world class assist from Bruno Guimaraes setting up Estevao to score the opener in this friendly. Joelinton remaining on the bench for the entirety of the game, Bruno subbed off on 79 minutes.

Germany 4  Luxembourg 0

An excellent team performance with Nick Woltemade leading the line for Germany.

The Newcastle United striker didn’t score himself but led the line so well, with link up play and his all round game helping to deliver a commanding victory in this World Cup group qualifier.

Sweden 0 Switzerland 2

Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga watching on from the bench as this must win World Cup group qualifier ended in defeat.

Sweden standing next to no chance now of appearing at the 2026 finals.

With three group games still left to play, Sweden eight points behind Switzerland.

Saturday 11 October

Estonia 1 Italy 3

Sandro Tonali bossing this World Cup group qualifier, rated man of the match across the Italian media and Football Italia perfectly summing up his brilliant performance…

‘Italy had a few strong performers tonight but the Newcastle United man was in a league of his own today. Harking back to the iconic Italian centre-mids of yore, the 25-year-old showed his class this evening.’

Monday 13 October

Northern Ireland 0 Germany 1

What a moment for Nick Woltemade to get his first goal for Germany in this World Cup group qualifier. The only goal of the game as the Newcastle United striker rises highest to head (‘slight’ suspicion it came off his shoulder…) home in the 31st minute. A tough night in Belfast, a real battle, but Germany now in such a strong position top of their group with only two games to play, only the group winners will automatically qualify for the 2026 finals. Nick Woltemade putting in a 92 minute shift and only subbed off in the dying seconds.

Sweden 0 Kosovo 1

An embarrassing home defeat for Sweden and left bottom of the table with one point after four games and only two matches left to play. Anthony Elanga named on the bench for this World Cup group qualifier and watched on as Sweden trailed 1-0 at half-time, though it could have been 2-0 as Kosovo also hit the post. Elanga one of three subs made at the break and he sparked Sweden belatedly into life, putting a series of quality crosses in but Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak wasting chance after chance.

Tuesday 14 October

Japan 3 Brazil 2

A brilliant pass from Bruno Guimaraes set up the opening goal but somehow Brazil ending up losing this friendly after leading 2-0. Bruno replaced by NUFC teammate Joelinton on 57 minutes as part of a triple substitution when Brazil 2-1 up. A defensive nightmare from those at the back for all three Japan goals. Joelinton almost rescuing a draw in the final seconds but his effort from outside the box saved in the top corner.

Latvia 0 England 5

Anthony Gordon fired England into the 2026 World Cup finals, scoring the opening goal in this demolition job that guarantees England top their group with two games still to play. England the first European side to qualify for the 2026 finals. Kane got the second and third goals before half-time with an own goal and a late one from Eze completing the scoring. Rashford replaced Gordon with 20 minutes to go and at the same time Stones went off and Dan Burn picked up another cap.