'Completely false' - Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa shares statement after DR Congo controversy
Newcastle United striker Yoane Wissa has shared an official statement from the DR Congo FA denying an alleged ‘rumour’ surrounding their upcoming matches.
Yoane Wissa took to Instagram to share a Congolese Football Federation statement denying claims ahead of their crucial World Cup play-off match.
Wissa is not part of the DR Congo squad this month for the World Cup play-offs this month following a knee injury picked up on international duty in September shortly after his £55million arrival at Newcastle United from Brentford.
The 29-year-old is yet to make his debut for Newcastle over two months later but has been back on the grass, stepping up his recovery at Darsley Park.
In the build-up to DR Congo’s crucial World Cup play-off match against Cameroon, rumours surfaced across African media and online that every member of the squad would receive $1million should they beat Cameroon and then the winners of Nigeria v Gabon on November 13 and November 16, respectively.
That would see DR Congo reach the intercontinental play-offs and be a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup for the first time since 1974 (as Zaire). According to Sports News Africa, the $1million bonus would be triggered simply for reaching the intercontinental play-offs, regardless of whether they qualify for the final tournament next summer.
But the DR Congo FA has hit back and completely denied the claims that their players are in for a significant financial reward for reaching the intercontinental play-offs.
The Gazette has launched a new WhatsApp NUFC channel to bring the latest news, analysis and team & injury updates directly to your phone. Simply click this link to join our NUFC WhatsApp channel.
Wissa shared a statement via his Instagram story on Wednesday evening.
The statement (translated from French) read: “The Congolese Football Federation (FECOFA) wishes to formally deny the rumour circulating on social media and in some media outlets, according to which each player on the national team, the Leopards of the DRC, has received or will receive one million US dollars as a bonus.
“FECOFA informs the public that this information is completely false, unfounded, and lacks any official basis from either the Government or the Federation.
“FECOFA calls on supporters, the media, and the general public to avoid spreading false news and to refer only to press releases and information from official sources, particularly those of FECOFA and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation
“The Federation reiterates its commitment to continue working with complete transparency for the advancement of Congolese football and the well-being of our Leopards, in accordance with established procedures.”
Football is BACK - subscribe to our Newcastle United newsletter for all the news straight to your inbox
Yoane Wissa injury latest
Wissa is expected to be close to a return from injury following the November international break but he has already had two potential return dates pushed back in October and early November.
On Wissa, Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said heading into the break: “Yoane's working well. He's on the grass, he's building his fitness. I think the knee's feeling good, no problems with that.
“It's more a case of looking at his fitness, sharpness, all the things that he's going to need to put together. He's in a good place injury-wise now to really kick on and push his body.