The Africa Cup of Nations took a dramatic turn for Mohamed Salah and his Egypt side as they were knocked out of the competition in a thrilling penalty shoot-out against the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Despite Salah’s absence due to injury, Egypt fought hard but ultimately lost 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at the end of extra time.
The match, held in the Ivorian coastal city of San-Pedro, saw Meschack Elia give DR Congo the lead in the 37th minute, only for Mostafa Mohamed to equalize for Egypt from the penalty spot just before halftime.
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With no further goals, the game went into extra time, during which Egypt’s Mohamed Hamdy was sent off for a second booking. Egypt held on for a shoot-out, hoping to replicate their success from the previous Cup of Nations, where they reached the final but lost on penalties to Senegal.
Unfortunately for Egypt, Salah missed his penalty kick, but DR Congo’s Arthur Masuaku also failed to convert his attempt. Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal then put his penalty over the crossbar, allowing DR Congo’s Lionel Mpasi to secure the victory and a place in the quarter-finals.
This defeat is a bitter disappointment for Egypt, who had high hopes of winning their first Cup of Nations since 2010. Salah, who made his senior international debut the following year, was unable to contribute to his team’s campaign after sustaining a hamstring injury in their second match against Ghana.
Despite returning to his club for treatment with the hope of rejoining the team in the later stages of the competition, Salah’s dream of winning the title with his country will have to wait.
On the other hand, this victory marks a significant milestone for DR Congo, as it is their first knockout win at the tournament since reaching the semi-finals in 2015.
Speaking after the match, goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi, who currently plays for Rodez in the French second tier, revealed that the team had practiced penalties extensively in training. Mpasi remained calm and focused during the decisive moment, successfully converting his penalty and securing the victory for DR Congo.
The disappointment of Egypt’s early exit highlights the challenges they faced in the tournament. The team struggled to find their rhythm in the group stage, managing only three draws.
Losing Salah to injury further weakened their chances of success. Despite these setbacks, Egypt showed resilience and determination throughout the competition. As the Africa Cup of Nations continues, the focus now shifts to the remaining teams vying for the title.
DR Congo will undoubtedly carry the momentum from their victory into the quarter-finals, while Egypt will regroup and start planning for future tournaments. For Salah, this setback will serve as motivation to come back stronger and lead his country to glory in future editions of the competition.
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