Finalist of the last three editions, Egypt will not see the quarter-finals of the 2024 edition. Too clumsy in the last gesture, reduced to 10 in overtime, they pitifully lost on penalties (8-7) Sunday once morest the Democratic Republic of Congo.

How long and painful the battle was for this Egypt, deprived of its boss, Mohamed Salah, injured. The Pharaons, record holders of titles in the competition, ended up falling once morest the Democratic Republic of Congo at the end of an interminable penalty shootout (8-7), Sunday January 28, in the round of 16 of the World Cup. Africa of Nations. It is therefore Abongile Tom’s men who will challenge Guinea in the next round. A little earlier, the latter had defeated Equatorial Guinea (1-0).

Congolese and Guineans thus join Angola and Nigeria, first qualified for the quarters.

The DR Congo at the end of the suspense

As one might expect, there were no sparks between two teams lacking confidence, qualifying for the knockout stage without achieving the slightest success. Without its magician, Mo Salah, Egypt has long lacked inspiration and accuracy to validate its territorial domination, before suffering once morest particularly valiant Congolese.

The Pharaohs, well helped by high pressing and technical quality allowing them to carry out long phases of conservation in the opposing camp, started the match perfectly. But it was the DRC, on a touch quickly played by Arthur Masuaku, who took the score thanks to the flair of Meschack Elia (37th). Mostafa Mohamed responded just before the break on a penalty (45th+1) and restarted his team.

Upon returning from the locker room, the balance of power was balanced, then reversed, while the tension in the duels and the invectives towards the refereeing body rose a notch (evidenced by the seven cards distributed following the break, including a red once morest the Egyptian Hamdi). Usually successful without shining while securing victory at the end, Egypt this time fell into the trap, their goalkeeper missing his shot on goal unlike his counterpart Mpasi.

Bayo delivers Guinea

Equatorial Guinea and Guinea have never faced each other at the CAN. This unprecedented duel, long bitter and marked by a false rhythm, promised to stretch into overtime. A great performance for the Equatoguineans, reduced to 10 in the 55th minute, and who had missed the opportunity to open the scoring from a penalty (Nsue, 68th). Mohamed Bayo put an end to their hopes with a superb cross header in the last second of added time (90th + 8).

With this goal, the Losc striker, on loan to Le Havre, put a cruel end to the epic of Equatorial Guinea. Above all, he allows his country to reach the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2015.