Egypt – DR Kongo 1-1 (7-8 str): It was highly dramatic in the round of 16 final between Egypt and DR Congo in the AFCON on Sunday evening. Without Mohamed Salah, the Egyptians managed to make it to the penalty shootout, despite playing most of the extra time with one man less than the opposition on the pitch.
Congo took the lead, but Egypt equalized through Mostafa Mohamed in extra time in the first half. After that, there were no more scores, and we had to go to a penalty shootout to find a winner.
It was also very dramatic there. Both teams missed their second penalty, but scored the other four. Thus it was “sudden death” to choose a winner. There, too, both teams showed that they could keep their cool. But in the end it was DR Congo who were left as winners, after Egypt’s goalkeeper Gabaski missed his penalty kick.
DR Congo will meet Naby Keita and Guinea in the quarter-finals. Egypt, the all-time winningest nation at the African Cup of Nations, are out and Salah is still waiting for his first title after losing the 2017 and 2021 finals.
Salah had to go off with an injury towards the end of the first half in the second match of the group stage. The captain was a savior in the first match against Mozambique, when he scored and provided the assist in the match which ended 2-2. Egypt progressed from the group stage with three points, after all matches ended 2-2. Egypt are out of the championship without losing a match after regular time, but they are also without a win in what turned out to be a very disappointing tournament.
Salah is out with a hamstring injury, and he will probably be out for another one and a half to three weeks. The Liverpool player had hoped to reach an eventual final on February 11, but can now focus on getting healthy and fast for the Reds’ exciting season rush once the disappointment of the exit in the AFCON has subsided.
Salah traveled home to Merseyside after the group stage finished to receive the best possible treatment for the injury.