Dr Congo in AFCON Quarterfinals After beating Egypt 8-7 on penalties, both teams made it to the round of 16 after drawing all three group matches. Egypt looked like the favourite on the day; however, Dr. Congo showed character.
They held the 7 times champions of Africa to a 1-1 drawn game after extra time and beat them in the penalty shootout.
After multiple fouls committed on both sides and a deadlock that lasted well into 34 minutes of overtime, DR Congo finally clinched victory with 8-7 in penalties.
After a penalty shootout victory over Congo, DR Congo advanced to Sunday’s quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). They have joined the likes of Nigeria, who beat Cameroon 2-0; Guinea, who sent Equitorial Guinea packing home; and Angola, who won 3-0 against Namibia.
In a heated struggle for dominance, Egypt and DR Congo played to a 1-1 tie at the end of normal time.
The game went into 34 minutes of extra time due to a scoreless draw after several fouls were called on both teams. In the end, DR Congo won the game 8-7 on penalties.
With Egypt drawing even right before halftime, the first half came to a spectacular close. Elia Meschack had put DR Congo ahead in the 37th minute with a well-placed header from a fast throw-in, but Mostafa Mohamed levelled the score in the 46th minute with a calm penalty conversion.
Drama persisted in the 45th minute when Egypt was awarded a penalty kick following a video assistant referee review. Mostafa Mohamed took advantage of a yellow card given to DR Congo international Dylan Batubinsika for his role in the altercation and scored a goal.
Both sides came out strong in the second half, looking to take the lead back. With each team searching for ways to break the stalemate, possession started to even out. To give their lineup a much-needed boost, Egypt substituted Ahmed Aboul-Fotouh with Mohamed Hamdy Sharaf in the 46th minute.
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In the face of a resolute defence against the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Pharaohs never settled into a rhythm in attack.
Adding to the disciplinary problems in the fiercely heated battle, Hamdy Fathy was yellow-carded in the 58th minute.
Egypt was short a player in the 97th minute when Mohamed Hamdy Sharaf, who had already been cautioned, was sent off for a second yellow card, leaving the pitch devoid of a player for Egypt.
In the 95th minute, the DR Congo took control of the ball more often in an effort to equalise Egypt’s pressure.
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Egypt kept possession of the ball in the 71st minute and kept trying to score, even though they were down a man. But the DRC held firm and offensively matched the Pharaohs.
Dr Congo in the AFCON Quarterfinals, and they did so with an Egypt 8-7 penalty shootout.