DR Congo eliminated Egypt in 8 with guts and penalties

Published on: 01/29/2024 – 00:06Modified: 01/29/2024 – 00:36

4 minutes

Experience versus carelessness. Egypt and its seven CAN titles, a model of consistency in the competition, against DR Congo, a completely rebuilding team, but impressive in its physical strength.

This was the poster for the 16th round of CAN 2024, Sunday January 28 at the Laurent Pocou Stadium in San Pedro. An indecisive meeting between two teams who had laboriously climbed out of the group, after drawing three matches each.

Also readProgram for the Round of 16 of CAN 2024

Without its star striker Mohamed Salah, injured and definitely cursed at the African Cup, nor its starting goalkeeper, Mohamed El-Shenawi, also out for the rest of the competition, Egypt could not present itself in its best light.

So Cheetah tries to capitalize from the start, quick attack, but Elia’s shot ends up over (3rd). Ferrons react, creating the first chance of the match with a free kick, but Hegazi’s header hits the crossbar (8th).

Elia scores first

After suffering in the first quarter of an hour, DR Congo decided to show its physical strength, increasing the number of intruders in the Egyptian area and free kicks. But there is still – and always – a lack of precision in the last gesture. Egypt held back, and also relied on set pieces like Zizo’s free kick that set Mpasi ablaze (36th).

We have to find a solution to unlock the scoreboard, and that’s what Leopard achieves by storm. The Egyptians turned to the referee to contest the throw-in, Masuku played it on quickly and found Wisa going alone on goal. His cross is blocked, but Elia finishes with a diving header (37th, 1-0).

There is no time for the cheetahs to taste, because during the process, on the attack of Egypt, the referee gives a warning and consults the VAR: Batubincica put his hand in the face of Hegazi in an aerial duel. penalty. Mostafa Mohamed coolly converted with Mpasi on the wrong foot (45th + 1, 1-1) and Equatorial Guinea took the opportunity to move a unit closer to Emilio Nsue’s scorers’ rankings, having just slipped away.

endless match…

Presumably upset, Cheetah retreats from the locker room, but Bakambu’s effort hits the post (53rd). On the hour mark, it was Pharaoh’s who regained the upper hand, but Mpasi saved his team against Zizo (61st), then assured again against Attia (64th).

The end of the match becomes random, and the changes don’t change anything. The players seem to be slowly but surely heading towards overtime. The Egyptians try to repeat the same move as in the first period, it doesn’t work. Hamada fails to retrieve Zizo’s cross (85th) and Mpasi officially scores the final corner of regulation time (90th+5).

…and unbearable suspense

At the start of extra time, Hamdi received a yellow card for a late intervention on Banza (96th). It’s another, and Egypt must finish the match numerically inferior. DR Congo then thought it had its chance and stepped up its offensive into the Egyptian camp. But the Pharaohs, for their part, play “on experience”: Gabalski, after a missed outing, remains on the ground for long minutes, Marmoush rolls after a virile but correct contact… Everything is good to stretch the match until the shots goal. for.

And in this little game, it’s DR Congo who come out on top after an interminable session, which saw nine shooters on each side. Congolese Mpasi wins the duel with a few inches past the goalkeepers, while Gabaski sees his shot bounce off the crossbar. Boldly, Leopards punched their ticket to the quarter-finals, where they will meet Guinea on Saturday.

Also readFind the end table