By Michael Madyira
A dramatic penalty shootout saw DR Congo storm into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after overcoming Egypt 8-7 in the lottery kicks at Stade Laurent Pokou in the early hours of Monday morning.
Following a 1-1 draw after extra-time, the contest had to be decided by spot kicks.
Meschack Elia had thrust DR Congo ahead on 37 minutes before the Pharaohs replied on the stroke of halftime through Mostafa Mohamed.
Seven-time African champions Egypt ended the match with 10 men following a red card to Mohamed Hamdy, who had come on as a substitute.
DR Congo went into the match without injured midfielder Gael Kakuta while Egypt missed star man Mohamed Salah, also due to fitness issues.
The Pharaohs started the match in a promising manner, with Mohamed Elneny heading just over the bar with only DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to beat.
An unmarked Zizo then miscued his shot inside the box as the Congolese survived yet another Egyptian attack.
But Elia broke Egypt’s dominance when his shot was deflected into the net by Mohamed Hany.
The North Africans recovered on the stroke of halftime when they were awarded a penalty after Buduka Batubinsika elbowed Ahmed Hegazy inside the box.
Mostafa Mohamed made no mistake to beat Mpasi from the penalty spot.
The second half saw no goals and the match stretched to extra time where Egypt became a man short following the dismissal of Hamdy.
The two teams could not be separated and needed a penalty shootout to decide the quarter-finalist.
Earlier on at Stade Olympique Alassane Ouattara, Guinea needed a Mohamed Bayo stoppage-time strike to edge 10-man Equatorial Guinea in a drama-filled contest.
It was a match where Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio Nsue missed an opportunity to take his Afcon 2023 tally to six goals after he missed a penalty kick.
The Equato-Guineans had held their nerves to defy their numerical disadvantage after Federico Bikoro was red-carded 10 minutes into the second half before Nsue hit the woodwork from the penalty spot on 69 minutes.
After frustrating Syli Nationale, Equatorial Guinea finally succumbed to Bayo’s headed goal scored deep into stoppage time as the match seemed headed for extra time.
Guinea will now meet DR Congo in the quarter-finals.
Pictured above: Yoane Wissa celebrates Meschack Elia’s goal for DR Congo against Egypt
Image source: CAF
