Report seven-time champions Egypt, missing injured talisman Mohamed Salah, had been knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday after shedding a penalty shootout 8-7 in opposition to DR Congo.Â
Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi transformed the profitable spot-kick in San-Pedro after fellow shot-stopper Mohamed Abou Gabal had seen his kick strike the bar and fly over.
A tense last-16 conflict completed 1-1 after additional time with Meschack Elia scoring on 37 minutes for DR Congo and Mostafa Mohamed equalising in first-half added time from a penalty.Â
Liverpool star Salah was injured in a gaggle match in opposition to Ghana and returned to his membership, who mentioned he would most likely solely be capable of return to the event if Egypt reached the ultimate.Â
DR Congo will face Guinea, last-gasp 1-0 winners over Equatorial Guinea earlier on Sunday, subsequent Friday in Abidjan for a spot within the semi-finals.
Egypt and DR Congo might between them have received 9 of the earlier 33 Cup of Nations tournaments, however neither nation managed even one victory within the group stage within the Ivory Coast this month.
They completed runners-up to Cape Verde and Morocco respectively in mini-leagues with similar information of three attracts and three factors.
The place they differed was within the variety of targets scored with Egypt netting six occasions, together with three from France-based Mohamed, and DR Congo solely twice.
This was the fifth AFCON conflict between the international locations from 1970 with the Pharaohs defeating the Leopards 3 times and shedding as soon as forward of the showdown within the west Ivorian coastal metropolis.
Controversial aim
Notable absentees by accidents had been Egyptian Mohamed el Shenawy, extensively considered the most effective Africa-based goalkeeper, and DR Congo playmaker Gael Kakuta.
Egypt dominated possession in a cagey opening half till DR Congo snatched the lead with a controversial Elia aim.
DR Congo took a throw-in that Egypt claimed ought to have been theirs and, whereas the north Africans protested, Yoane Wissa crossed for Elia to nod into the web on the far publish.
A VAR overview confirmed the aim and the off-field officers had been additionally concerned within the Egyptian equaliser a minute into added time on the finish of the primary half.Â
The South African referee initially waved play on after Dylan Batubinsika elbowed Egypt captain Ahmed Hegazy within the face, however awarded a penalty after reviewing the incident on the monitor.
Mohamed maintained his goal-a-game report within the Ivory Coast by sending Mpasi the flawed approach as he slammed the spot-kick into the roof of the web.
DR Congo received extra of the ball because the second half progressed, however even half-chances for each side remained scarce with defences marshalled by Hegazy and Chancel Mbemba on high. Â
In an try and bolster their assault, the Congolese changed veteran ahead Cedric Bakambu with Simon Banza, the 14-goal main scorer within the Portuguese league this season.
With Egypt a person brief after Mohamed Hamdy was sent-off, DR Congo utilized fixed extra-time strain, however couldn’t rating a profitable aim.Â
