Yoane Wissa has continued his excellent start to the season.
The Newcastle United striker starring for DR Congo in their opening AFCON group qualifier.
Former United defender Chancel Mbemba opened the scoring after just three minutes when heading home from a left-side free-kick into the box against Equatorial Guinea.
Looking lively throughout, Yoane Wissa was a constant threat and saw his own first half headed ‘goal’ ruled out for offside.
However, in the 72nd minute he made no mistake, the ball fed into Wissa on the edge of the penalty area and he turned his man before scoring with a left foot shot.
A very open game (watch highlights below) with chances for both teams but DR Congo deserving their 2-0 victory, Yoane Wissa one of a couple of players taken off in the 89th minute with the job done.
Wissa’s Newcastle United teammate Bazoumana Toure also experienced success on Thursday.
Yalcouye gave Ivory Coast a 44th minute lead and Kessie with a penalty made the win secure on 58 minutes.
Toure came off the bench in the 86th minute to help see the victory completed.
This is the September and October 2026 international schedule for Newcastle United players:
Thursday 24 September
Ivory Coast 2 Ghana 0
Bazoumana Toure coming off the bench in the 86th minute with the score already 2-0 in this AFCON group qualifier.
DR Congo 2 Equatorial Guinea 0
Yoane Wissa scoring in the 72nd minute to ensure the win in this AFCON group qualifier.
Friday 25 September
Italy v Belgium (Matias Fernandez-Pardo) Nations League
England U21s v Kazakhstan U21s (Lewis Miley) European Championship Qualifier
Iceland U21s v France U21s (Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen) European Championship Qualifier
Netherlands U21s v Norway U21s (Sean Steur) European Championship Qualifier
Saturday 26 September
England v Spain (Lewis Hall) Nations League
Czech Republic v Croatia (Lukas Hornicek) Nations League
Monday 28 September
Zimbabwe v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) AFCONQ
Belgium v France (Matias Fernandez-Pardo) Nations League
Tuesday 29 September
Ivory Coast v Somalia (Bazoumana Toure) AFCONQ
Czech Republic v England (Lewis Hall, Lukas Hornicek) Nations League
Estonia U21s v France U21s (Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen) European Championship Qualifier
Thursday 1 October
Germany v Serbia (Malick Thiaw (and Nick Woltemade)) Nations League
Friday 2 October
DR Congo v Uganda (Yoane Wissa) Friendly
Belgium v Turkey (Matias Fernandez-Pardo) Nations League
England U21s v Slovakia U21s (Lewis Miley) European Championship Qualifier
Slovenia U21s v Netherlands U21s (Sean Steur) European Championship Qualifier
Saturday 3 October
Ivory Coast v Cameroon (Bazoumana Toure) Friendly
Croatia v England (Lewis Hall) Nations League
Spain v Czech Republic (Lukas Hornicek) Nations League
France U21s v Luxembourg U21s (Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen) European Championship Qualifier
Sunday 4 October
Greece v Germany (Malick Thiaw (and Nick Woltemade)) Nations League
Monday 5 October
Uganda v DR Congo (Yoane Wissa) Friendly
France v Belgium (Matias Fernandez-Pardo) Nations League
Tuesday 6 October
England v Czech Republic (Lewis Hall, Lukas Hornicek) Nations League
Republic of Ireland U21s v England U21s (Lewis Miley) European Championship Qualifier
France U21s v Switzerland U21s (Aladji Bamba, Ewen Jaouen) European Championship Qualifier
Netherlands U21s v Bosnia and Herzegovina U21s (Sean Steur) European Championship Qualifier