Silas' Congo DR knock Marmoush's Egypt out of AFCON

Marmoush slotted home in the third round of the shootout. Silas successfully took care of his turn in the fourth. The two nations traded goals in a very lively first half. The second 45 was significantly less smooth, marred by fouls, stoppages, and bookings. Egypt were reduced to ten-men in the 97th when Mohamed Hamdy was sent off on double-yellows. Silas managed to record an assisted shot during the short interval in which the Congolese enjoyed superior numbers. Marmoush was tied down in defensive work, making one crucial tackle.

The shoo-out went nine rounds when the initial five produced a 4-4 stalemate. Mostafa Mohamed and Arthur Masuaka each missed their turns in the second round. Egyptian Mohamed About Gabal struck the post when it came time to step up in the third of the “sudden death” rounds. Lionel Mpasi then ensured that his side would advance with a conversion that gave Congo DR an 8-7 PSO victory. Neither keeper saved a shot in the final phrase. All three misses went wide of the mark.

Congo are back in the quarters for the first time since 2017. The Leopards have reached the semis twice (1998 and 2015) since the dissolution of Mobutu Sese Seko’s Zaire in 1997. They captured the AFCON crown once under the Mobutu regime in 1974 and once as “Congo-Kinshasa” in 1968. The country failed to advance past the semis in both 1998 and 2015, yet finished as the third place team in both cases after winning the playoff.