Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa has proclaimed a national holiday following the surprising 2-1 victory of the country’s soccer team against Germany, securing their spot in the World Cup knockout phase. Noboa expressed gratitude to the players and coach for overcoming criticism, insults, and challenges to bring immense joy to the nation, declaring the following day a holiday.
After suffering a defeat to Ivory Coast and a draw with Curacao in their previous Group E matches, Ecuador needed a win in their final game. Despite conceding an early goal to Germany, the South American team staged a comeback to clinch the victory, prompting jubilant celebrations among fans at a packed New York/New Jersey stadium.
While Germany had already secured qualification as group winners, Ivory Coast claimed the second spot with a 2-0 victory over Curacao. Ecuador secured their place in the knockout stages of the World Cup by finishing as one of the top eight third-placed teams, marking only the second time they have progressed to this stage in the tournament’s history, following their advancement to the round of 16 in the 2006 edition held in Germany.