Egypt, without their injured talisman Mohamed Salah, have exited the Africa Cup of Nations after a dramatic penalty shoot-out against DR Congo in San Pedro. The match, held on January 28, 2024, at Laurent Pokou Stadium in Côte d'Ivoire, ended 1-1 after extra time, leading to a tense and thrilling penalty showdown.
The DR Congo fans are loving life. (Photo: Getty Images)
Match Summary
The game saw Egypt and DR Congo battling fiercely, with Mostafa Mohamed scoring a penalty in the first half for Egypt. The match remained tightly contested, eventually leading to a penalty shoot-out after extra time failed to produce a winner.
Here is a summary of the penalty shootout:
| Penalty | Egypt | Congo DR |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mohamed Abdelmonem | Samuel Moutoussamy |
| 2 | Mostafa Mohamed | Arthur Masuaku |
| 3 | Omar Marmoush | Grady Diangana |
| 4 | Omar Kamal | Silas Katompa-Mvumpa |
| 5 | Mohamed Hany | Aaron Tshibola |
| 6 | Ahmed Hegazy | Gedeon Kalulu |
| 7 | Mostafa Fathi | Chancel Mbemba |
| 8 | Mahmoud Hamada | Henock Inonga Baka |
| 9 | Gabaski (Missed) | Lionel M'Pasi (Scores) |
The decisive moment came when Egypt's goalkeeper, Gabaski, missed his penalty, giving DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi the chance to win it for his team. Mpasi stepped up and scored, sending DR Congo to the quarter-finals.
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Goalkeeper Mpasi the hero (Photo: Getty Images)
Goalkeeper Mpasi: The Unlikely Hero
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, 29, who plays for Rodez AF in Ligue 2, the second tier in France, didn't save a single penalty. Then again, he didn't have to. He watched opposite number Gabaski crash his kick against the bar and kept his cool to send the Democratic Republic of Congo into the quarter-finals. Now he's being hoisted on the shoulders of his team-mates. What a hero. But spare a thought for poor Gabaski too.
The Winning Moment
The winning moment (Photo: Getty Images)
The DR Congo fans are ecstatic as their team advances to the quarter-finals, defying expectations even with Mohamed Salah's absence from the Egyptian squad. They fought and scrapped for every ball and have got their rewards: a quarter-final against Guinea.
Reactions and Aftermath
The Ivory Coast fans were openly supporting DR Congo during the penalty shootout, celebrating wildly when Egypt's keeper missed. This defeat marks another setback for Mohamed Salah in his quest to lift the AFCON trophy. It's more tournament heartbreak for the Pharoahs!
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DR Congo goalkeeper wins THRILLING shootout! 🇨🇩🧤 | Egypt 1-1 (7-8 pens) DR Congo | AFCON Highlights
What's Next?
With the win, DR Congo advances to the quarter-finals to face Guinea. Nigeria will face Angola. The DR Congo fans are loving life.
How are the quarter-finals shaping up? Photo: The Athletic
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