Congo has reached the knockout stage of the World Cup for the first time in its history, overcoming Uzbekistan 3-1 on Saturday to advance. The victory erases the memory of the team's previous appearance in 1974, when it competed as Zaire and suffered a significant 9-0 defeat.

Striker Yoane Wissa was instrumental in the historic win, scoring two goals, including a penalty in the 68th minute and a late strike in added time. Fiston Mayele also contributed a crucial goal in the dramatic second-half comeback. The team's resilience was key, as they rallied after Uzbekistan took an early lead in the 10th minute with a goal from Eldor Shomurodov.

"We told ourselves we can’t give up," Mayele said after the match. "We’re a team that knows how to respond when we concede a goal; we keep fighting with determination," added coach Sébastien Desabre.

This marks a significant achievement for Congo, which was considered an underdog in Group K, a group that also featured Portugal and Colombia. The team secured its place in the round of 32 as one of the best third-place teams, having previously held Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a 1-1 draw earlier in the tournament.

"The weight on our shoulders was hard to bear," Wissa commented. "All the guys — the substitutes, those who’ve worn the jersey before, and those who’ll wear it tomorrow — we should be proud. Thank you to all the Congolese people; it’s for moments like these that we do what we do. We did it!"

Congo now joins Cape Verde as another surprise qualifier from Africa. With this win, Congo becomes the eighth African nation to advance from the group stage in this World Cup. For Uzbekistan, their debut World Cup appearance concluded with three consecutive losses. "I hope this tournament will give us big experience. I hope this experience will give us more motivation for the future," said Uzbekistan coach Fabio Cannavaro.

Congo's historic advancement sets up a knockout stage match against England. The celebrations extended beyond the final whistle, with fans expressing their joy long after the game concluded.