Egypt crash-out of 2023 AFCON after round of 16 shoot-out loss to DR Congo

Caretaker January 29, 2024

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Egypt have crashed out of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament after a 7-8 penalty shoot-out loss to DR Congo in the round of 16 game on Sunday, January 28, 2024.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored the 18th penalty of a gruelling shootout as DR Congo produced the another shock at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by knocking seven-time champions Egypt out to reach the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

DR Congo scored the opening goal when Meschack Elia nodded in Yoane Wissa’s cross to put the team ranked 67th in the world on course for the latest surprise result at a tournament which has been filled with underdog success in Cote d’Ivoire.

That DR Congo lead lasted just nine-minutes before Mostafa Mohamed scored with a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Ahmed Hegazi was caught by a carelessly stretchered arm from Dylan Batubinsika.

Egypt finished the game with 10 men after left-back Mohamed Hamdy was shown a second yellow card and sent-off seven minutes into extra time for a mistimed lunge on Simon Banza.

In the penalty shootout that followed, 18-kicks were taken with DR Congo emerging victorious after Egypt goalkeeper Gabaski had clipped the top of the crossbar in the ninth round of the shoot-out.

Mpasi of DR Congo stepped up to score the winning kick to hand his team a 8-7 result on penalties.

DR Congo will play Guinea in the quarter-finals at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday, Febuary 2, 2024 after the Syli National beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 earlier on Sunday.