Egypt is one of the nations contending for final victory in this African Cup of Nations. The Pharaohs, 7 times titled in their history and finalists of the last edition, have however not won the continental Grail since 2010. Thus, they do not intend to stumble, this Sunday January 28 in the 8th final, against the players of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Democratic Republic of Congo in quarters!
The Congolese defeated the Egyptians at the end of a match that seemed hopeless. Penalties between the two goalkeepers sealed the fate of this very close confrontation. The DRC will face Guinea in the quarter-finals of the CAN. Thank you for following this live and see you soon!
It’s Mpasi’s turn to qualify the DRC!
Gabaski confronts his counterpart and shoots the bar
Inonga brings the DRC back together
Mbemba keeps the suspense going
Tshibola for the equalizer
Kamal gives Egypt the lead again
Diangana takes Gabaski on the wrong foot
Omar Marmoush scores and gets back on track
Mostafa Mohamed shoots wide
120+4′. Penalties!
The match will be decided on a penalty shootout. Extra time was like the second half, without too many chances on either side.
118′. Disjointed end to the match
The DRC cannot worry Egypt. The Leopards are very messy in their transmissions against the Pharaohs who defend very well with ten men.
111′. Elneny exit
Arsenal midfielder makes way for Mohanad Lasheen.
106′. Resumption and danger on the Egyptian cage.
The Congolese restart with a bang with a good fleeing cross from the left. The ball passes the entire defense without being caught and ends up to the left of Gabaski’s goal.
105+2′. Halftime overtime.
This first period was especially marked by Egypt’s red card. The numerical superiority of the DRC is not yet felt.
98′. Wasted free kick
The set piece following the expulsion, taken by Masuaku, flies well above the cage.
96′. Guilty Egyptian foul
Mohamed Hamdy receives a second yellow and is sent off following a bad move on Simon Banza. Tension rises between the two teams. Egypt will have to continue numerically inferior.
91′. Start of extra time
Overtime is initiated for a period of half an hour. Will they be enough for the teams to find the flaw?
90+6′. Extensions!
At the end of a much duller second half, neither team was logically able to gain the upper hand over the other. This result corresponds to the fourth draw in a row (in normal time) for Egypt and the DRC in the competition. They will have to decide between themselves in the next thirty minutes and, if the two selections neutralize each other again, they will go to penalties.
90+5′. Corner for Egypt
Attia makes a good breakthrough on the Congolese left flank, his cross is blocked and goes out of bounds. The corner kick will still do nothing.
90′. Last change for Egypt.
Author of a very good match, Sayed Zizo leaves his place to Mostafa Fathi. This substitution follows that of the DRC which replaced Wissa with Stuttgart striker Silas.
85′. Egypt wastes a huge opportunity
After an overflow along the goal line and a good lofted cross from Sayed Zizo in the Congolese area, the incoming Mahmoud Hamada was found alone. But he lacks his control and cannot follow up with a shot which would surely have ended up deep.
79′. Change for the DRC
Aaron Tschibola returns in place of Pickel, coach Sébastien Desabre tries to find offensive solutions.
76′. Fresh break
It’s time in this half to quench your thirst. For several minutes, the game had been messy and at a false pace.
65′. Exit of Bakambu and Batubinsika
The former OM striker and the Saint-Etienne defender are replaced by Inonga and Simon Banza.
62′. Great Egyptian action
Mohamed Hany finds Sayed Zizo on the edge of the area who finds a good pass for Fathi. The Egyptian striker strikes on Mpasi who saves his team.
55′. Mbemba not far from scoring
The OM defender received a very well-hit corner in the heart of the area but his header ended up a few centimeters above the goal.
53′. Big Congolese opportunity
The Leopards quickly leave their camp and find Elia who sends a good pass into the area to Bakambu. He is well placed but does not sufficiently deflect the ball which goes out six meters.
52′. Trezeguet misses himself
Well shifted at the entrance to the area, the Egyptian striker tripped over the carpet and sent the ball straight out of the goal.
49′. Good intervention from Gabaski
On a tight and tricky cross from Elia, the Egyptian goalkeeper reads the trajectory well and clears the ball with his hand.
46′. Dangerous free kick for the DRC
Arthur Masuaku sends a good cross into the box, cleared by the Egyptian defense for a corner. The corner kick will do nothing.
46′. Resumption of the match.
The Congolese give the commitment to this second act. El Fotouh gave way to Mohamed Hamdi before kick-off.
45+6′. Halftime in San Pedro!
After a lively first period, Egypt and the Democratic Republic of Congo are back to back and confirm their difficulty in gaining the upper hand over their opponents. The Congolese were generally dominant, but the North Africans defended well with a solid rearguard.
45+1′. Egyptian equalizer!
Mostafa Mohamed transforms the penalty by striking to the left of Mpasi.
45′. Penalty for the Pharaohs
On the action following Mohamed’s free kick, Batubinsika defends the cross in the air but elbows Hegazy. After checking the VAR, the referee designates the penalty point.
41′. Egypt’s rapid response
Rui Vitoria men get a good free kick in the opposing camp. Mostafa Mohamed takes care of it, launches a dangerous shot but it is repelled by the Congolese defense.
37′. DRC goal!
The Congolese opened the scoring thanks to Wissa. The Brentford player benefits from a quick touch in the area, his cross is deflected by Hegazy in his goal. Elia is on the trajectory and just has to extend the ball just before it crosses the line.
36′. Egyptian free kick
The Pharaohs finally have the opportunity to worry the DRC, but the free kick, messy, ends up directly in Mpasi’s gloves.
31′. Fresh break
The teams make a short stop to hydrate in the Ivorian heat.
30′. Ahmed Hegazy hit!
The Egyptian captain gives of himself. When Elia overwhelms again, the defender throws himself to repel the danger and collapses to the ground. He gets up, grimacing.
23′. The Congolese close to opening the score
The men in Blues are becoming more and more urgent. After a good recovery in the opposing camp, Elia is perfectly shifted but takes too long to arm his shot. The Egyptian defense, well folded, succeeded in preventing it.
21′. New opportunity for the DRC
Bongonda, who has dezoned, causes a good free kick to the right of the Egyptian area. The cross is good but pushed back, the same Bongonda does not lean enough on the ball and hits it above.
16′. Congolese free kick
Interesting situation at 25m, Yoan Wissa tries his luck but sends the leather into the wall.
15′. A bitter struggle in the camp of the Pharaohs
On the left flank of the Egyptian half, full-back Masuaku deploys significant energy to outflank the opposing defenders and cross. It is well contained each time by the North Africans.
8′. Huge opportunity for Egypt!
On a magnificent cross from Marwan Attia, the captain of the North African selection Ahmed Hegazy hits with a header from close range but his shot goes over.
6′. Hamdi Fathi misses his header
On a beautiful floating pass in the area, the well-placed right attacker wins but unscrews his shot which escapes to the left of the Congolese goal.
4′. A rhythmic start to the match
Opportunities flow in both directions. After Elia’s big miss, the Egyptians go to the opposing area and send a cross intercepted by Mpasi.
2′. First free kick and clear chance of the match
Egypt gets an interesting set piece after a long period of possession that started at kickoff. The free kick taken indirectly achieves nothing. The Congolese counter-attack is dazzling and Meschack Elia, facing Gabaski, completely misses his shot. The ball flies above his cage.
9:00 p.m. Match kick-off!
The Egyptians launch hostilities this evening in Ivory Coast. The challenge for both teams will be to qualify, unlike the group stage, without going through a draw resulting, this time, in penalties.
8:55 p.m. The anthems ring out
The melodies “Biladi (homeland), Biladi, Biladi” and the Congolese Debout resonate successively in the Laurent-Pokou stadium in San Pedro.
8:30 p.m. The compositions of the two teams!
The two selections will play in classic 4-3-3 formations. The match will be refereed by South African Tom Abongile.
8:15 p.m. Welcome everyone to this live!
Follow the Africa Cup of Nations knockout match Egypt – Democratic Republic of Congo on this live commentary.