D.R. Congo dump Egypt out of AFCON after dramatic penalty shootout

The Democratic Republic of Congo is steadily progressing towards their first Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) championship in half a century, following a thrilling victory over Egypt in a penalty shootout. Surprisingly, goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi emerged as the hero, securing DRC's spot in the quarter-finals after a 1-1 draw.

The Pharaohs had several significant opportunities to score early in the game. Ahmed Hegazy missed a header from Marwan Attia's cross, and Mostafa Mohamed failed to convert a kick from a promising position in the box. On the other hand, Théo Bongonda had a good chance but missed the target from near the penalty spot.

This early action foreshadowed the performance of the 1974 champions, who took the lead in the 37th minute. Meschack Elia scored with a close-range header after Yoane Wissa's cross was deflected.

However, the lead didn't last long as Rui Vitória's side equalized before halftime. A VAR review resulted in a penalty being awarded against Dylan Batubinsika for a trailing arm on Hegazy. Mohamed successfully converted the penalty, scoring his fourth goal of the tournament.

Despite their opponents having the momentum going into halftime, DR Congo looked more likely to win in the second half. Cédric Bakambu and Chancel Mbemba missed two good chances.

Both teams were aware of the importance of the game, and chances were scarce. However, Egypt gained confidence as the game progressed, with Zizo and Attia having shots saved.

As expected, given that both teams had drawn all three of their group games, extra time was needed to determine the winner. In the 97th minute, the Pharaohs were reduced to 10 men when Mohamed Hamdy received his second yellow card for a late tackle on Simon Banza.

Despite being a man down, Egypt's stubborn defense made it difficult for the Leopards to break through. A couple of dangerous crosses narrowly missed tired outstretched legs, and Banza and Bongonda also missed the target.

With no winning goal in extra time, the match went to penalties, just like Egypt's loss in the 2021 final against Senegal. Both teams traded misses, with Mohamed and Arthur Masuaku failing to convert their spot-kicks. Eventually, both teams successfully scored six consecutive penalties.

Gabaski, the goalkeeper, struck the crossbar for the Pharaohs, resulting in a thrilling moment as Mpasi skillfully deceived his fellow goalkeeper with a precise shot, earning himself the status of a hero.

As a consequence, DR Congo has secured their place in the AFCON quarter-finals, where they will encounter Guinea, a team they haven't faced since 2017.

Meanwhile, Egypt's journey in the tournament comes to an end at the round-of-16 stage for the second time in three tournaments.