6 min readUpdated: Jun 18, 2026 02:14 AM IST
With their 1-1 tie against Portugal, the Democratic Republic of Congo managed a draw in what was the country’s first appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 52 years, Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa scored the equaliser for Congo in the injury time in the first half after Joao Neves had given Portugal the lead in the sixth minute of the Group K match at Houston Stadium.
Back in 2021, Wissa had suffered an acid attack at his home in Lorient in France, where he was playing for the French Club Lorient FC. The incident happened days before he was set to join Premier League side Brentford for a record deal of 8.5 million pounds with reports later stating that a woman later identified as Laetitia P posed as a fan to seek his autograph at his home and threw acid on the striker’s face with Wissa’s family present at his home at that time. It was later reported that the woman had tried to kidnap Wissa’s daughter.
Post the incident, Wissa had told the court in Vannes, Brittany about the incident and how he almost lost his eye sight. “I opened a door, and had liquid thrown in my face. I screamed and could not breathe.My wife called the emergency services, and they told me to get under the shower to rinse my eyes. At the hospital they told me my eyes were burned. Someone had to come and rinse them out every hour. It has been a nightmare. Since then I panic every time I hear a noise, and the only thing that kept me going was knowing my children are safe. I had surgery on both eyes, and the doctor told me I will need to use eye drops for the rest of my life.”The Sun had reported Wissa giving the statement in the court in Vannes, Brittany.
Congo’s Yoane Wissa (20) scores his side’s first goal against Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Portugal and Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Karen Warren)
Wissa, who was born in France, had earlier played for clubs like Chateauroux, Angers, Laval, Ajaccio and Lorient in France before he joined Brentford in September,2021, a month after the acid attack incident. With the court proceedings taking place post the incident and Wissa also appearing at the trial, Laetitia P was later found guilty and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. Wissa had further talked about how the incident delayed his move to Brentford.
“It took me six months before I fully got my sight back. Had I not been treated so quickly, the consequences would have been far worse. The days afterwards were traumatic for me. I know I will never feel the same as I used to. I want justice. Why has this happened to me? My wife and I will suffer the after-effects for the rest of our lives. This hugely delayed my move to Brentford. I missed their pre-season, and when I arrived the manager (Thomas Frank) said he had already drawn up his first team. He sympathised with me, and gave me time to adapt – but I got injured quickly as I wasn’t feeling great. After the attack I reacted like a father more than a footballer, and told myself at least my kids are unharmed even though I am blind. Since that time I have become withdrawn. I can no longer tolerate being around people I don’t know. My kids often ask me what I have done to my face, but they are too young for me to tell them what happened. I have been offered an operation. But I have refused, as this is part of my personal history,” Wissa had told the court as reported by The Sun.
Post the incident, the then Lorient manager, Christophe Pelissier had visited the striker at the hospital. “Even though he was physically and mentally affected, Yoane quickly showed his determination to succeed. What struck me about him was his strong will and how he never gave up,” Pelissier had told BBC.
Yoane Wissa played in a total of 149 matches for Brentford from 2021 to 2025 and scored 49 goals. The striker then made a move to Newcastle United in a move expected to be close to 55 million pounds. With a recurring knee injury, Wissa has since then started in only four Premier League matches for Newcastle having a total of 13 appearances for the club in the league with only one goal.
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He had also missed playing for Congo in the African Nations Cup to play for his club. His only goal for the club had come in his first match against Fulham wearing the jersey number nine, a number worn by club legend Alan Shearer. Post the match, Wises had shared how he got a text message from Shearer. “It means a lot to me. I received a text message from him (Alan Shearer) before the match, he wished me the best of luck because he knew I was going to start. It is something special. I know the number nine shirt is the best one here, so I just need to enjoy that. There is pressure that comes with it, but it is a privilege.” Wissa had told BBC Radio post the match.
