ABIDJAN, Jan 29: Congo knocked seven-time champion Egypt out of the Africa Cup of Nations with an 8-7 win on penalties after the teams finished 1-1 after extra time on Sunday in the round-of-16 match.
Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal struck the crossbar with his spot kick before Congo counterpart Lionel Mpasi stepped up to send the Leopards into the quarterfinals.
Also known as Gabaski, Abou Gabal – whose saves almost won the title for Egypt in the last edition – was playing because regular goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy dislocated his shoulder in the team’s final group game against Cape Verde.
It was the latest misfortune for Egypt, which lost Liverpool star Mohamed Salah to a hamstring injury during the 2-2 draw with Ghana in their second match.
The Egyptian Football Association sacrificed a cow on Thursday in an effort to change the team’s luck.
However, the Pharaohs’ defense was caught out by a quick throw in for Congo’s opening goal, scored by Meschack Elia in the 37th.Mostafa Mohamed equalized from the penalty spot in first-half stoppage time. But extra time was needed between two teams that had failed to win any of their games so far.
It was the eighth consecutive Africa Cup match that Egypt failed to win in normal time including the previous tournament. Egypt finished the game with 10 players when defender Mohamed Hamdy was sent off in the first period of extra time with his second yellow card for a late challenge on Simon Banza. (PTI)
