Afcon 2023: Egypt 1-1 DR Congo (aet, 7-8 on pens) – Mpasi the last-16 hero for Leopards


Lionel Mpasi is carried off by DR Congo team-mates after their penalty shoot-out win against Egypt
DR Congo keeper Lionel Mpasi did not make a save in the shoot-out, but kept his composure to net the winning penalty

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored the 18th penalty of a nerve-shredding shoot-out as DR Congo produced the latest shock at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations by knocking seven-time champions Egypt out to reach the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

DR Congo went ahead for the first time at the finals when Meschack Elia nodded in Yoane Wissa’s cross to put the team ranked 67th in the world on course for the latest surprise result at a tournament which has been illuminated by underdog success in Ivory Coast.

Their lead lasted nine minutes before Mostafa Mohamed converted a penalty on the stroke of half-time after Ahmed Hegazi was caught by a flailing arm from Dylan Batubinsika.

Egypt finished with 10 men after left-back Mohamed Hamdy was shown a second yellow card seven minutes into extra time for a mistimed lunge on Simon Banza.

And, after Pharaohs keeper Gabaski had clipped the top of the crossbar in the ninth round of the shoot-out, Mpasi stepped up to win it 8-7 on penalties.

In the absence of injured captain Mohamed Salah, Rui Vitoria’s team ended the tournament winless and suffered the same fate as they did in the 2021 final, when they were beaten on penalties by Senegal.

An unmarked Hegazi headed an early first-half chance over from seven yards out and substitute Mahmoud Hamada lost his footing from a presentable opportunity late in normal time, but the Leopards were worthy winners and could have gone ahead sooner had the lively Elia not lashed an effort over in the third minute.

The shoot-out saw both sides miss from their second attempts, with Mohamed side-footing wide of the right-hand upright and Arthur Masuaku immediately scooping the ball over the crossbar for the Central Africans.

But Mpasi kept his composure to slot into the top right-hand corner against Gabaski, who had been a penalty-saving specialist in Egypt’s run to the final in Cameroon two years ago.

DR Congo will play Guinea in the quarter-finals at Abidjan’s Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday (20:00 GMT) after the Syli National beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 earlier on Sunday.

More to follow.

Line-ups

Egypt

Formation 4-3-3

  • 23Abou Gabal Ali
  • 3Gamal Eldemerdash
  • 6Hegazy
  • 24Mohamed Ahmed
  • 13MohamedSubstituted forHamdy Mahmoud Sharfedinat 45′minutesBooked at 97mins
  • 17ElnenySubstituted forAhmed Abdelmonemat 112′minutes
  • 14GhallabBooked at 80minsSubstituted forHamada Awadat 83′minutes
  • 5Abdel FattahBooked at 58minsSubstituted forAbdel Wahedat 100′minutes
  • 25SayedSubstituted forAbdel Hameid Mohamed Abdallaat 90′minutes
  • 19Abdalla
  • 7TrézéguetSubstituted forMarmoushat 83′minutes

Substitutes

  • 1Moawad El Shenawy
  • 2Gabr
  • 4Abdel Wahed
  • 9Mohamed Mahgoub
  • 11Kahraba
  • 12Hamdy Mahmoud Sharfedin
  • 15El Hanafi
  • 18Abdel Hameid Mohamed Abdalla
  • 20Hamada Awad
  • 22Marmoush
  • 26Daader
  • 27Ahmed Abdelmonem

DR Congo

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1Mpasi
  • 24Kalulu
  • 22MbembaBooked at 115mins
  • 5BatubinsikaBooked at 45minsSubstituted forInongaat 65′minutes
  • 26Masuaku
  • 10BongondaBooked at 102mins
  • 8Moutoussamy
  • 18PickelSubstituted forTshibolaat 79′minutes
  • 13EliaSubstituted forDianganaat 105+2′minutes
  • 17BakambuSubstituted forBanzaat 65′minutes
  • 20WissaSubstituted forKatompa Mvumpaat 88′minutes

Substitutes

  • 2Inonga
  • 4Bayeye
  • 6Tshibola
  • 7Diangana
  • 11Katompa Mvumpa
  • 12Kayembe
  • 15Bushiri
  • 16Bertaud
  • 19Mayele
  • 21Siadi
  • 23Banza
  • 27Mfulu

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