Image@ Reuters
In a moment of national pride, President Santiago Peña has announced a national holiday for Tuesday to commemorate Paraguay’s stunning victory over Germany, which propelled the team into the World Cup round of 16.
The South American squad achieved a remarkable feat by defeating the four-time world champions 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the match ended in a 1-1 draw following extra time on Monday.
This victory is hailed as one of the most significant upsets in World Cup history.
“Today, an entire nation rejoices,” Peña shared on social media platform X, accompanied by an image of himself signing the official decree.
He continued, “This celebration honors a team that embodies the essence of our identity: the determination, faith, and resilience of people who never surrender.”
The decree, which Peña also posted online, emphasized that Paraguay’s triumph transcends mere sports and warrants a nationwide celebration.
“The government cannot remain apathetic to this extraordinary accomplishment,” the decree stated.
“It is essential to enable all Paraguayans to gather and celebrate this historic occasion.”
Paraguay becomes the second South American nation to declare a holiday following an unexpected World Cup outcome against Germany in this tournament.
Just last week, Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa also proclaimed a national holiday after his country achieved a 2-1 victory over Germany in Group E, securing their place in the knockout stage.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong