DR Congo will be facing Guinea in the second quarter-final fixture at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after both sides defeated their opponents on Sunday to advance to the last eight of the competition.
DR Congo defeated perennial champions Egypt 8-7 on penalties after playing out a 1-1 draw (aet).
The Congolese took the lead for the first time in the AFCON when Meschack Elia nodded in Yoane Wissa’s cross, putting the 67th-ranked team on track for the latest surprise result in a tournament highlighted by underdog victory in Ivory Coast.
Their lead lasted nine minutes when Mostafa Mohamed converted a penalty on the stroke of halftime after Ahmed Hegazi was felled by Dylan Batubinsika’s flailing arm.
Egypt finished with 10 men following the left-back. Seven minutes into extra time, Mohamed Hamdy received a second yellow card for a mistimed lunge on Simon Banza.
And, after Egypt goalie Gabaski clipped the top of the crossbar in the ninth round of the shootout, Mpasi
Mohamed Bayo headed in a dramatic winner in the eighth minute of injury time as Guinea beat 10-man Equatorial Guinea 1-0 on Sunday to advance to the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations.
The last-16 tie at the Ebimpe Olympic Stadium in Abidjan was heading for extra time when Guinea’s Bayo, of French Ligue 1 side Le Havre, struck right at the death to spark frenzied scenes of celebration among the Guinea team and their large support.
It was a historic moment for Guinea, who had never previously won a Cup of Nations knockout tie — they were runners-up in 1976, in an era when the final four played a round-robin format to decide the winner of the trophy.
