Faced with an Egypt specializing in endless matches, Congo-Kinshasa qualified for the quarter-finals of the African Cup of Nations after a huge penalty shootout (1-1, 7 shots on goal at 8). The Leopards will face Guinea.
As crazy as it may seem, Egypt had gone to extra time in each of their four matches in the knockout phase of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (before losing to Senegal on penalties). This did not fail, these Pharaohs without Mohamed Salah pushed the DR Congo to penalties on Sunday in Ivory Coast, but it was the Leopards who emerged victorious in this round of 16 (1-1, 7 tab at 8). They will face Guinea in the quarterfinals!
Chancel Mbemba’s Congo-Kinshasa could perhaps have won before, during the first 90 minutes then during the additional 30… The Congolese opened the scoring through Meschack Elia on a strike from Yoane Wissa (37th), before an equalizer quick signed Mostafa Mohamed on penalty after a foul by Stéphanois Dylan Batubinsika (44th). The FC Nantes striker finishes with a fourth goal.
Lionel Mpasi as a hero
After a lackluster second period, however, marked by a big opportunity for Cédric Bakambu (52nd) and, on the other side of the field, a duel lost by Zizo in front of Lionel Mpasi (60th), the two teams played overtime. This quickly went badly for the Egyptians, with the exclusion of Mohamed Hamdi for a second yellow card (97th).
To top it all off, the penalty shootout was incredible. If Mostafa Mohamed missed the second Egyptian shot on goal, the two teams neutralized each other until the Pharaons’ ninth penalty, missed by goalkeeper Mohamed Gabaski! Lionel Mpasi, the Congolese goalkeeper who plays in Ligue 2 (Rodez), gave him the qualification for an entire country!
