Yoane Wissa: Congo’s hero against Portugal, who once survived an acid attack

Put up the incident, Wissa had advised the courtroom in Vannes, Brittany concerning the incident and the way he virtually misplaced his eye sight. “I opened a door, and had liquid thrown in my face. I screamed and couldn’t breathe.My spouse known as the emergency companies, they usually advised me to get underneath the bathe to rinse my eyes. On the hospital they advised me my eyes had been burned. Somebody needed to come and rinse them out each hour. It has been a nightmare. Since then I panic each time I hear a noise, and the one factor that stored me going was understanding my kids are protected. I had surgical procedure on each eyes, and the physician advised me I might want to use eye drops for the remainder of my life.”The Solar had reported Wissa giving the assertion within the courtroom in Vannes, Brittany.

Congo’s Yoane Wissa (20) scores his facet’s first purpose against Portugal goalkeeper Diogo Costa through the World Cup Group Okay soccer match between Portugal and Congo in Houston, Wednesday, June 17, 2026. (AP Photograph/Karen Warren)

Wissa, who was born in France, had earlier performed for golf equipment like Chateauroux, Angers, Laval, Ajaccio and Lorient in France earlier than he joined Brentford in September,2021, a month after the acid attack incident. With the courtroom proceedings going down put up the incident and Wissa additionally showing on the trial, Laetitia P was later discovered responsible and was sentenced to 18 years in jail. Wissa had additional talked about how the incident delayed his transfer to Brentford.

“It took me six months earlier than I totally received my sight again. Had I not been handled so shortly, the implications would have been far worse. The times afterwards had been traumatic for me. I do know I’ll by no means really feel the identical as I used to. I would like justice. Why has this occurred to me? My spouse and I’ll endure the after-effects for the remainder of our lives. This massively delayed my transfer to Brentford. I missed their pre-season, and once I arrived the supervisor (Thomas Frank) mentioned he had already drawn up his first group. He sympathised with me, and gave me time to adapt – however I received injured shortly as I wasn’t feeling nice. After the attack I reacted like a father greater than a footballer, and advised myself no less than my children are unhurt though I’m blind. Since that point I’ve develop into withdrawn. I can now not tolerate being round individuals I don’t know. My children typically ask me what I’ve achieved to my face, however they’re too younger for me to inform them what occurred. I’ve been provided an operation. However I’ve refused, as that is a part of my private historical past,” Wissa had advised the courtroom as reported by The Solar.

Put up the incident, the then Lorient supervisor, Christophe Pelissier had visited the striker on the hospital. “Though he was bodily and mentally affected, Yoane shortly confirmed his willpower to succeed. What struck me about him was his robust will and the way he by no means gave up,” Pelissier had advised BBC.

Yoane Wissa performed in a complete of 149 matches for Brentford from 2021 to 2025 and scored 49 targets. The striker then made a transfer to Newcastle United in a transfer anticipated to be near 55 million kilos. With a recurring knee harm, Wissa has since then began in solely 4 Premier League matches for Newcastle having a complete of 13 appearances for the membership within the league with just one purpose.

He had additionally missed enjoying for Congo within the African Nations Cup to play for his membership. His solely purpose for the membership had are available his first match against Fulham sporting the jersey quantity 9, a quantity worn by membership legend Alan Shearer. Put up the match, Wises had shared how he received a textual content message from Shearer. “It means so much to me. I acquired a textual content message from him (Alan Shearer) earlier than the match, he wished me the perfect of luck as a result of he knew I used to be going to start out. It’s one thing particular. I do know the quantity 9 shirt is the perfect one right here, so I simply have to take pleasure in that. There’s stress that comes with it, however it’s a privilege.” Wissa had advised BBC Radio put up the match.