Wissa: I have a lot to prove
Leopards’ stars Wissa, Moutoussamy, and Bakambu on Congo DR’s Play-Off Tournament tussle with Jamaica.
Congo DR face Jamaica on Tuesday in the final of the FIFA Play-off Tournament
The Leopards are bidding to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974
Yoane Wissa, Samuel Moutoussamy, and Cedric Bakambu spoke to FIFA ahead of the defining clash
Love Lasts Three Years was the title of French writer Frederic Beigbeder’s bestseller.
Considering that Congo DR coach Sebastien Desabre and his players kicked off the CAF qualifiers in mid November, 2023, it’s safe to say they still have plenty of honeymoon days ahead of them.
That’s good news, because the Leopards will need plenty of heart and dedication to cap off their long journey to the FIFA World Cup 2026™. 867 days after their first qualifying match against Mauritania (2-0), they are now just 90 or 120 minutes away from making history, carried by an entire nation that is waiting for one thing: to return to the World Cup for the first time since 1974.
Standing in their way in the final of the FIFA Play-Off Tournament is a Jamaica side that are also aiming to return to the sport's grandest stage for just a second time.
“It’s special [to be so close to the goal],” midfielder Samuel Moutoussamy told FIFA on Monday. “We can’t wait to get there. We can’t wait to play this match, to give it everything we’ve got on the field to qualify.”
“We're very focused and we've worked really hard,” said the former Nantes player, now with Greek outfit Atromitos. “We had a great training camp, with a lot of quality and teamwork. We talked a lot to iron out the final details. We stayed in our own little bubble, and that was important.”
“It did us good to stay among ourselves,” added striker Cedric Bakambu. “Now we know what we have to do. I think we’re ready to take on the Reggae Boyz.”
If he scores against Jamaica on Tuesday, the 34-year-old Real Betis player could make history by tying (or even surpassing, if he scores twice) Dieumerci Mbokani’s national team goal-scoring record mark of 22. “I’m not thinking about that,” he admits. “What matters to me right now is qualifying Congo DR for the World Cup.”
To do so, they’ll need to get the better of the Concacaf nation that struggled at points in a 1-0 win over New Caledonia on Thursday in Guadalajara. With stars Leon Bailey and Bobby De Cordova-Reid in line to start, Rudolph Speid’s men are a formidable obstacle. “It won’t be a walk in the park,” admits Bakambu. “Jamaica is a very good team—very physical, but also very fast and agile. We’ll have to be on our guard.”
For Yoane Wissa, back in form after several months out due to a serious injury, the key to the final will be “to score as quickly as possible and control the game.” “I have confidence in my body now,” says the Newcastle striker, who scored in the Leopards’ 2-0 friendly win against Bermuda last week.
“I'm really happy to be here and eager to give it my all. I know I have a lot to prove tomorrow. Score, make a difference, set up a goal. Bring my game so we can be dangerous in attack.”
“Tomorrow, we’re going to see a great match,” says Bakambu, who knows better than anyone that this final will be watched by an entire nation. “Football in the DRC is a huge deal,” he notes. “It’s something that brings the whole country together.”
“We know the Congolese people are behind us,” concludes Moutoussamy. “We know they’re eagerly awaiting this. We’re thinking of our fans, and we’re going to do our absolute best to make them happy in the end.”