In a thrilling encounter, DR Congo clinches a spot in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations, edging past Egypt 8-7 on penalties, with goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi emerging as the hero with the decisive penalty.
The highly contested match ended in a 1-1 draw after regular and extra time, leading to a nerve-wracking penalty shootout where both teams exhibited remarkable composure.
DR Congo's Meschack Elia netted the opener in the 37th minute, countered by Egypt's Mostafa Mohamed's penalty just before halftime.
A twist unfolded in extra time when Egypt's Mohamed Hamdy received a red card, reducing his team to 10 men. The deadlock persisted, paving the way for the intense penalty shootout.
The shootout reached a dramatic 7-7 tie after eight penalties each, leading to a showdown between the goalkeepers. Egypt's Mohamed Abou Gabal struck the crossbar in the ninth penalty, providing DR Congo with a chance to seize victory.
In a thrilling moment, Mpasi, DR Congo’s goalkeeper, confidently converted his penalty, securing their unexpected journey into the quarter-finals.
This victory is particularly remarkable for DR Congo, considering their initial struggle in the group stage, where they failed to secure a single win.
Their next challenge awaits against Guinea in the quarter-finals on Friday, February 2, as they strive to extend their surprising success in the competition.
