The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) superior to the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations by defeating seven-time champions Egypt in a penalty shootout, securing an 8-7 victory after the groups performed to a 1-1 draw within the round-of-16 match on Sunday.
Egypt’s goalkeeper, Mohamed Abou Gabal, struck the crossbar along with his penalty kick, opening the door for Lionel Mpasi to safe Congo’s spot within the quarterfinals.
Gabal crammed in for the common goalkeeper, Mohamed el-Shenawy, who dislocated his shoulder within the group’s closing group sport towards Cape Verde.
This marked the most recent setback for Egypt, who had earlier misplaced Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to a hamstring damage throughout the 2-2 draw with Ghana of their second match.
In a bid to alter the groups’ fortunes, the Egyptian Football Association carried out a ritual, sacrificing a cow on Thursday.
Congo’s Meschack Elia scored the opening aim within the thirty seventh minute after Egypt’s protection was caught out by a fast throw-in.
Mostafa Mohamed equalized from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time.
Extra time was wanted between two groups that had did not win any of their video games to date.
Egypt completed the sport with 10 gamers when defender Mohamed Hamdy acquired his second yellow card for a late problem on Simon Banza.
In the shootout, Mohamed transformed Egypt’s second penalty to the proper of the aim, however Congo’s Arthur Masuaku reciprocated by sending his effort over. No different gamers missed till Abou Gabal did.
Congo will face Guinea within the subsequent spherical.
Guinea strike once more
Mohamed Bayo scored within the eighth minute of stoppage time to ship Guinea into the quarterfinals with a 1-0 win over 10-man Equatorial Guinea.
The sport was heading for additional time when Ibrahim Diakite crossed for Bayo to lastly break the impasse with a header contained in the close to publish.
It was successfully the final play of the sport, leaving the exhausted Equatoguinean gamers slumped on the sector.
The majority of the 36,340 followers in attendance celebrated, conscious of Equatorial Guinea’s 4-0 win over Ivory Coast within the earlier match – a consequence that just about knocked the host nation out.
But the Guinea gamers and followers had their very own causes to have a good time.
“It means loads as a result of we knew the historic nature of this match. We knew that, by successful, it will be the primary time since 1976 that we gained a knockout sport,” stated Guinea coach Kaba Diawara, who wiped away tears as he left the sector and was applauded by journalists earlier than the post-match news convention.
“We’re proud. We’ve been working together for two years and we’ve grown together,” Diawara said. “We managed to adapt, even when the way wasn’t the very best. Last minute. But I stated I wished us to win. And that’s what we did.”
Tournament high scorer Emilio Nsue missed a penalty within the 69th minute for Equatorial Guinea when his spot-kick struck the proper publish. It maintained the sport’s zero pictures on the right track as much as that time.
The penalty was awarded by means of VAR for a foul by Guinea defender Sekou Sylla on Iban Salvador.
Equatorial Guinea defender Federico Bikoro was proven a straight purple card within the fifty fifth minute for kicking Bayo whereas trying a clearance.
Guinea star Serhou Guirassy made his entrance to an enormous roar from the supporters shortly afterward.
The Stuttgart ahead’s affect has been restricted by a thigh damage sustained in a pre-tournament warmup.
“I think I can start the next game, but you have to ask the trainer,” Guirassy stated.
Source: www.dailysabah.com