Afcon 2023: Egypt 1-1 DR Congo (aet, 7-8 on pens) – Mpasi the last-16 hero for Leopards

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored the 18th penalty of a nerve-shredding shoot-out as DR Congo produced the most recent shock on the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by knocking seven-time champions Egypt out to achieve the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after additional time.

Their lead lasted 9 minutes earlier than Mostafa Mohamed transformed a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Ahmed Hegazi was caught by a flailing arm from Dylan Batubinsika.

Egypt completed with 10 males after left-back Mohamed Hamdy was proven a second yellow card seven minutes into additional time for a mistimed lunge on Simon Banza.

And, after Pharaohs keeper Gabaski had clipped the highest of the crossbar within the ninth spherical of the shoot-out, Mpasi stepped as much as win it 8-7 on penalties.

Within the absence of injured captain Mohamed Salah, Rui Vitoria’s staff ended the event winless and suffered the identical destiny as they did within the 2021 last, after they had been beaten on penalties by Senegal.

An unmarked Hegazi headed an early first-half likelihood over from seven yards out and substitute Mahmoud Hamada misplaced his footing from a presentable alternative late in regular time, however the Leopards had been worthy winners and will have gone forward sooner had the full of life Elia not lashed an effort over within the third minute.

The shoot-out noticed either side miss from their second makes an attempt, with Mohamed side-footing huge of the right-hand upright and Arthur Masuaku instantly scooping the ball over the crossbar for the Central Africans.

However Mpasi saved his composure to fit into the highest right-hand nook in opposition to Gabaski, who had been a penalty-saving specialist in Egypt’s run to the ultimate in Cameroon two years in the past.

DR Congo will play Guinea within the quarter-finals at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday (20:00 GMT) after the Syli Nationwide beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 earlier on Sunday.

Egypt exit Afcon on penalties once more

If a knockout-stage assembly between two sides who had drawn all three of their group video games is a rarity, it was much less of a shock when the competition ended all sq. after 90 minutes.

The transfer which broke the impasse eight minutes earlier than the break began with a bit of fast pondering by Masuaku, releasing Wissa on the left with a throw-in which allowed the Brentford attacker to enter the penalty space and clip a cross through a deflection into the trail of Elia to move in on the road.

Egypt had been lacking one of many early stars of the finals, Emam Ashour, due to concussion, whereas goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, who suffered a dislocated shoulder throughout their last group-stage recreation, was changed by Gabaski.

The North Africans might have been missing the talismanic Salah in assault, however Mohamed initially proved his reliability once more from the spot to equalise along with his fourth objective of the finals.

Hegazi had gone down in a heap following Batubinsika’s aerial problem, main South African referee Abongile Tom to guide the crestfallen centre-back for a stray arm following a VAR overview and examine on his pitch-side monitor.

Possibilities had been few and much between within the second half, however Cedric Bakambu arrived forward of Hegazi to satisfy Elia’s inviting cross after the winger escaped down the best however stabbed his first-time end simply huge on the close to submit.

Chancel Mbemba headed Masuaku’s cross over the goal, and the Leopards wanted Mpasi to react neatly when Hamdi Fathi’s intelligent flick allowed Zizo to precisely fireplace in a fierce shot from a good angle.

However Hamada had the objective to purpose at when Zizo situated him on the far submit shortly after his late introduction, solely to lose his toes because the cross dribbled behind him in a let-off for DR Congo.

With penalties looming, Egypt had extra defending to do as soon as Hamdy had been dismissed for a foul which left Banza clutching an ankle in ache.

West Brom midfielder Grady Diangana narrowly failed to attach because the ball bounced tantalisingly throughout Egypt’s six-yard field, prefacing a finale through which the extra established contenders appeared understandably content material to play for time reasonably than assault with intent.

Mpasi seemed to be finding out instructive pictures of Egypt’s potential penalty makes an attempt because the groups gathered earlier than the ultimate act, however Gabaski may need reminded himself of the 4 spot kicks throughout three shoot-outs he saved out on the 2021 finals, in addition to Sadio Mane’s first-half effort within the last.

Because it was, the participant of the match on that event might solely rattle the crossbar when he was known as upon to take one himself this time, the consequence of a string of finishes which gave neither goalkeeper many possibilities to turn into a hero.