AFCON: Egypt knocked out on penalties
In a nail-biting penalty shoot-out, goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi secured a historic victory for DR Congo as they stunned seven-time champions Egypt to advance to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
The match ended 1-1 after extra time before penalties saw Egypt out of AFCON.
It’s the latest surprise in the tournament which so far has been marked by underdog success.
DR Congo is ranked 67th globally. They took the lead at the finals for the first time when Meschack Elia headed in Yoane Wissa’s cross, putting them on track for a remarkable upset. However, their advantage lasted only nine minutes before Mostafa Mohamed levelled the score with a penalty just before half-time, following a foul by Dylan Batubinsika on Ahmed Hegazi.
The tension escalated when Egypt’s left-back, Mohamed Hamdy, received a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge on Simon Banza, leaving Egypt with 10 men during extra time.
The decisive moment came in the penalty shoot-out’s ninth round, as Pharaohs’ keeper Gabaski hit the top of the crossbar. Seizing the opportunity, Mpasi stepped up, converting the 18th penalty and securing an 8-7 victory on penalties.
In the absence of injured captain Mohamed Salah, Rui Vitoria’s team concluded the tournament winless, mirroring their fate in the 2021 final, where they were defeated on penalties by Senegal.