Acid attack survivor Wissa targets England upset as DR Congo reach first World Cup knockouts

Yoane Wissa will lead DR Congo against England in the World Cup round of 32, having almost single-handedly guided his country into the knockout stage for the first time in their history — and having overcome an ordeal off the pitch that nearly ended his career entirely.

DR Congo navigated a difficult Group K to finish third on four points, and Wissa was central to every significant moment. He scored the equaliser in a 1-1 draw against Portugal before netting twice in a decisive 3-1 win over Uzbekistan that sealed their place in the knockouts. It is only the second time the country has appeared at a World Cup, having previously competed as Zaire in 1974.

The 29-year-old’s path to this stage has been defined as much by what happened away from football as by his performances on the pitch. On 1 July 2021, while still a player at FC Lorient in northwestern France, Wissa was the victim of a violent acid attack at his home. A 36-year-old woman, identified in court only as Laetitia P., approached his door asking for an autograph. Later that evening she returned and threw a highly corrosive liquid directly into his face and eyes, simultaneously attempting to kidnap his newborn daughter. Wissa prevented her from taking the baby but suffered severe chemical burns and was rushed to hospital for emergency surgery on both eyes.

Doctors were able to save his sight, though Wissa has said he required six months before his vision fully returned and has been told he will need eye drops for the rest of his life. Remarkably, he completed an £8.5 million transfer to Brentford just one month after the attack.

The investigation revealed the woman had been faking a pregnancy and targeted Wissa’s family in an attempt to steal a child to deceive her husband. The day after attacking Wissa, she carried out a second acid attack on another woman in a further attempt to abduct a baby. She was arrested on 3 July 2021.

In January 2025, Wissa travelled from England to attend her trial in France and delivered an emotional testimony. “It has been a nightmare,” he told the court. “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. 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. My wife and I will suffer the after-effects for the rest of our lives.”

Now a Newcastle United striker, Wissa arrives at the knockout stage as DR Congo’s talisman and their clearest threat to an England side expected to advance. His country’s historic run has already exceeded every previous benchmark; what happens next against the Three Lions will define it further.