In a nail-biting Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash on Sunday, the Democratic Republic of Congo secured an epic 8-7 victory in a penalty shootout against Egypt, following a tense 1-1 draw at the Laurent Pokou Stadium in San Pedro. Egypt’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Abou Gabal, missed a crucial penalty, hitting the crossbar, allowing DR Congo to advance to the quarter-finals where they will face Guinea in Abidjan on Friday.
Meschack Elia provided DR Congo with an early lead, heading in virtually on the goal-line. However, Mostafa Mohamed leveled the score for Egypt with his fourth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot just before halftime. The game took an intense turn in extra time when Egypt’s Mohamed Hamdy received a red card, leaving The Pharaohs without injured talisman Mohamed Salah. Despite the numerical disadvantage, Egypt managed to hold on, forcing the match into a penalty shootout.
The victory for DR Congo marked a significant moment, as the last time they beat Egypt in a Cup of Nations clash was in the semi-finals 50 years ago, leading them to lift the trophy. The match resulted in a fourth consecutive draw for both teams in the Ivory Coast this year, with Egypt experiencing their sixth draw in a row dating back to the previous tournament in Cameroon. Additionally, it marked their fifth extra-time encounter in succession in knockout games.
DR Congo took the lead in the 37th minute when Yoann Wissa’s deflected cross from the left was headed over the line by Elia. The goal, originating from a quick throw-in that Egypt disputed, caught them off guard as they were slow to react to the Congolese restart. Egypt equalized in injury time of the first half when a VAR review awarded them a penalty after Dylan Batubinsika struck Ahmed Hegazi with an extended arm during an aerial duel in the penalty box. Mostafa Mohamed confidently converted the spot-kick, securing his status as the first Egyptian player to score in their first four matches at a Cup of Nations finals.
Despite Mohamed’s historic feat, the absence of Mohamed Salah loomed large for Egypt. DR Congo had opportunities to secure victory in the second half, with Cedric Bakambu missing a chance early on, and Chancel Mbemba heading over moments later. The game eventually went to extra time and culminated in a dramatic penalty shootout, sealing DR Congo’s place in the quarter-finals and leaving Egypt to ponder missed opportunities in a match that tested their resilience under challenging circumstances.
