The Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a thrilling 8-7 penalty shootout victory over Egypt.
In a fiercely contested match that ended 1-1 after 90 minutes and extra time, both teams resorted to a penalty shootout to determine the winner.
DR Congo surged ahead in the final when Meschack Elia connected with Yoane Wissa’s cross, giving the 67th-ranked team a valuable lead in the tournament.
However, their advantage was short-lived as Mostafa Mohamed equalized for Egypt with a well-taken penalty just before halftime after a foul by Dylan Batubinsika.
The intensity of the match was further heightened when Egypt was reduced to 10 men in extra time after Mohamed Hamdy received a second yellow card for a mistimed challenge.
In the decisive penalty shootout, both teams displayed nerves of steel as the contest extended to the ninth round.
Ultimately, DR Congo emerged victorious when their goalkeeper Gabaski clipped the crossbar, allowing Mpasi to convert and seal the win.
With this hard-fought victory, DR Congo advances to the quarter-finals where they will face Guinea in what promises to be another thrilling encounter.
The fixture is scheduled to take place at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday.
