No Mo Salah No Way For Egypt As DR Congo Knock Them Out Of AFCON
January 29, 2024
After a 1-1 draw after extra time, DR Congo shocked everyone by eliminating seven-time champion Egypt and advancing to the quarterfinals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi netted the 18th penalty of an intense shoot-out.
Meschack Elia’s nod of Yoane Wissa’s cross gave DR Congo the lead for the first time in the tournament finals, setting up the 67th-ranked squad for yet another unexpected victory in a competition highlighted by underdog victories in Ivory Coast.
Their lead lasted for nine minutes until, just before halftime, Mostafa Mohamed scored from a penalty when Dylan Batubinsika’s flailing arm caught Ahmed Hegazi.
Egypt used ten players in the end after the left-back Seven minutes into extra time, Mohamed Hamdy was given a second yellow card for an ill-advised lunge at Simon Banza.
Additionally, Mpasi scored to win it 8-7 on penalties after Pharaohs keeper Gabaski had missed the top of the crossbar in the ninth round of the shootout.
Rui Vitoria’s team finished the tournament without a win and met the same destiny as they did in the 2021 final—that is, losing to Senegal on penalties—without their injured captain, Mohamed Salah.
Though Mahmoud Hamada, the substitute, lost his footing from a presentable opportunity late in normal time, and an unmarked Hegazi headed an early first-half chance over from seven yards out, the Leopards were worthy winners and could have taken the lead sooner had Elia not fired an effort over in the third minute.
Both teams missed their second shots in the shootout, with Mohamed side-footing the ball wide of the right upright and Arthur Masuaku of the Central Africans quickly scooping it over the crossbar.
Despite Gabaski’s reputation as a master at saving penalties during Egypt’s journey to the final in Cameroon two years prior, Mpasi maintained his cool to slot into the top right-hand corner against him.
Guinea and DR Congo will square off in the quarterfinals at after the Syli National defeated Equatorial Guinea 1-0 earlier on Sunday, the match took place at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday at 20:00 GMT.