- DR Congo beat Egypt 8-7 on penalties
- Goalkeeper Nzau scored the winner for the Congolese
- Guinea edged out Equatorial Guinea
AFCON (Africa Cup of Nations ) record champions Egypt have been bundled out of the 2023 showpiece after losing on post-match penalties to DR Congo while Guinea scored a last gasp winner to edge out a hard fighting Equatorial Guinea.
The two sides will face each other in the quarter finals in Abidjan, after their respective victories on Sunday night.
In the late kick off, Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau scored the match winning penalty while his opposite number Gabaski missed as Dr Congo edged out Egypt 8-7 to progress to the quarters.
The game was forced into extra time after a 1-1 stalemate in 90 minutes, and even an extra 30 could not get a winner. Egypt were reduced to 10 men seven minutes into extra time after Mohamed Hamdy was sent off for a second yellow card, but they held on to get to the lottery of penalties.
Mohamed Abdelmonem and Samuel Moutoussamy both scored their first kick with precision. However, both sides missed their second kicks, Mostafa, who had scored in regular time failing to hit the back of the net while Arthur Masuaku also missed for DRC.
However, they would all score the rest of the three kicks. Omar Marmoush, Omar Kamal and Mohamed Hany scored for Egypt while Grady Diangana, Silas Katompa and Aaron Tshibola scoring for DRC.
With a 4-4 stalemate, the kicks went into sudden death, the first at AFCON 2023.
AFCON: Both sides score the first three
Goalkeeper Lionel Nzau was named man of the match. PHOTO/CAF
Hegazy, Mostafa Fathy and Mahmoud Hamada scored the next three for Egypt while Gedeon kalulu, skipper Chancel Mbemba and Simba SC’s Hennock Inonga scored for DRC.
However, Gabaski, who was coming in for the injured Mohamed Elshenawy saw his kick come off the crossbar and Mpasi stepped up to send him the wrong way for Congo’s winner.
In regular time, Meshack Elia had given the DRC a 37th minute lead when he nodded home literally from the line after Yoann Wissa’s cross was deflected beyond keeper Gabaski.
Egypt however responded from the penalty spot a minute to the break through Mostafa Mohamed. The Pharaohs were awarded a spot kick after Dylan Batubinsika’s arm had caught Ahmed Hegazy in the face, but had to be confirmed by VAR.
Earlier on, Striker Mohamed Bayo scored a last gasp winner as Guinea edged out surprise package Equatorial Guinea in Abidjan by a solitary goal to progress to the AFCON last eight.
The game seemed well headed for extra time and possibly penalties after a thrilling encounter in normal time, but Bayo sneaked in ahead of his marker to score the vital goal, with the game ending immediately after the restart.
Guinea win at the death
Guinea players celebrate their win in the round of 16. PHOTO/CAF
It was heartbreaking result at the AFCON for the Equatoguineans, who had been down to 10 men after Frederico Bikoro was sent off early in the second half, and they had a penalty miss.
Bikoro was sent off in the 55th minute after his follow through boot off a clearance landed on Bayo’s rib cage.
Skipper and tournament top scorer Emilio Nsue had a chance to give them the lead shortly after from a penalty awarded by VAR, after Ivan Salvador was hacked down in the box by Sekou Sylla.
However, Nsue struck his effort against the woodwork despite sending the keeper the wrong way, much to the dismay of his entire side.
And, it was Guinea who would stab where it hurt most, Bayo glancing a header off an Ibrahim Diakite cross from the right to win it for the Syli Nationale and hand them a ticket into the last eight.
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