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DR Congo's defender #24 Gedeon Kalulu (L) and DR Congo's midfielder #8 Samuel Moutoussamy (2R) celebrate next to Egypt's players after winning at the end of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) 2024 round of 16 football match between Egypt and DR Congo at the Stade Laurent Pokou in San Pedro on January 28, 2024. (Photo by SIA KAMBOU / AFP) (Photo by SIA KAMBOU/AFP via Getty Images)

Egypt 1-1 DR Congo: Mpasi heroics shootout Pharaohs

Review

Africa Cup of Nations 2023 Round of 16

Egypt
DR Congo
1 - 1
Final Score
Mostafa Mohamed - 1 (45+1')
Meschak Elia - 1 (37')
Game Statistics
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
0 Shots on Goal 0
0 Saves 0
0 Corner Kick 0
0
Shot Accuracy
0
Pass Accuracy
Fouls
0
Offsides
0
0
Shot Accuracy
0
Pass Accuracy
0
Fouls
0
Offsides
Ball Possession
57%
43%
Game Timeline
KO
KO
13. Meschak Elia
37'
19. Mostafa Mohamed
45+1'
5. Dylan Batubinsika
45'
12. Mohamed Hamdy
46'
5. Hamdy Fathy
58'
2. Henoc Inonga Baka
65'
23. Simon Banza
65'
12. Mohamed Hamdy
66'
6. Aaron Tshibola
79'
14. Marwan Attia
80'
20. Mahmoud Hamada
83'
22. Omar Marmoush
83'
11. Silas Katompa Mvumpa
88'
18. Mostafa Fathi
90'
12. Mohamed Hamdy
97'
12. Mohamed Hamdy
97'
4. Omar Kamal
100'
10. Théo Bongonda
102'
7. Grady Diangana
105+2'
27. Mohanad Lasheen
112'
22. Chancel Mbemba
115'
FT

(AFP) – The Democratic Republic of Congo remain on course for their first Africa Cup of Nations title in 50 years after a dramatic penalty shootout win over Egypt.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi was the unlikely hero as his spot-kick sent DRC through to the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra-time.

The Pharaohs had a couple of huge opportunities to open the scoring early on when Ahmed Hegazy headed over from Marwan Attia’s right-wing cross before Mostafa Mohamed fluffed his kick from a promising position in the box.

At the other end, the best early chance came when Théo Bongonda was found in space, but fired off target from near the penalty spot.

That was a sign of things to come from the 1974 champions, who took the lead on 37 minutes when Meschak Elia nodded his side into a 1-0 lead, although he could barely miss from inches out as he met Yoane Wissa’s deflected cross.

That advantage didn’t last long though, with Rui Vitória’s side equalising before half-time. A VAR review led to a harsh penalty being awarded against Dylan Batubinsika for a trailing arm on Hegazy, and Mohamed duly dispatched the spot-kick, his fourth goal in as many games at the tournament.

Despite their opponents having the momentum going into the break, it was DR Congo who looked most likely victors after it, although Cédric Bakambu and Chancel Mbemba spurned two decent openings.

Chances were generally at a premium, with both teams knowing the prize at stake, but Egypt grew in confidence as the game wore on, with Zizo and Attia seeing shots saved.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, given both teams have drawn each of their three group games, extra-time was required to decide the winner.

Seven minutes into the additional 30, the Pharaohs were reduced to 10 men when Mohamed Hamdy picked up his second yellow card for a late tackle on Simon Banza.

The Leopards still found it tough to break down a stubborn defence though, with a couple of dangerous crosses narrowly avoiding tired outstretched legs alongside Banza and Bongonda missing the target.

With no winning goal forthcoming, the tie headed to penalties, the same method by which Egypt had lost the 2021 final to Senegal. Mohamed and Arthur Masuaku traded misses for either side before both teams netted six successive spot-kicks.

Goalkeeper Gabaski then smashed against the crossbar for the Pharaohs, leading to Mpasi dramatically making himself a hero as he sent his fellow stopper the wrong way with a clinical finish.

The result means DR Congo are through to the AFCON quarter-finals where they’ll face Guinea for the first time since 2017, while Egypt are sent packing at the round-of-16 stage for the second time in three tournaments.

Results

Team1st Half2nd HalfGoalsPossessionOutcome
Egypt10157Draw
DR Congo10143Draw

MATCH STATISTICS

MAN OF THE MATCH

TEAM SHEETS

Egypt

23Gabaski Goalkeeper
24Mohamed Abdelmonem Defender
3Mohamed Hany Defender
6Ahmed Hegazi Defender
13Ahmed Abou El Fotouh 12 Defender
17Mohamed Elneny 27 Midfielder
5Hamdy Fathy 4 Midfielder 58'
14Marwan Attia 20 Midfielder 80'
19Mostafa Mohamed Forward 45+1'
25Zizo 18 Midfielder
7Trézéguet 22 Forward
12Mohamed Hamdy 13 Defender 66', 97'
97'
20Mahmoud Hamada 14 Midfielder
22Omar Marmoush 7 Forward
18Mostafa Fathi 25 Forward
4Omar Kamal 5 Defender
27Mohanad Lasheen 17 Midfielder
  1 4 1 1 3 19 3 8 541 81.5 441 769 20 26 17 136 75 32

DR Congo

1Lionel Mpasi Goalkeeper
24Gédéon Kalulu Defender
22Chancel Mbemba Defender 115'
26Arthur Masuaku Defender
5Dylan Batubinsika 2 Defender 45'
8Samuel Moutoussamy Midfielder
10Théo Bongonda Midfielder 102'
18Charles Pickel 6 Midfielder
13Meschak Elia 7 Midfielder 37'
20Yoane Wissa 11 Forward
17Cédric Bakambu 23 Forward
2Henoc Inonga Baka 5 Defender
23Simon Banza 17 Forward
6Aaron Tshibola 18 Midfielder
11Silas Katompa Mvumpa 20 Forward
7Grady Diangana 13 Midfielder
  1 3 1 2 22 4 200 8 377 78.2 295 642 42 22 13 136 61 31

 

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