Egypt's AFCON Journey Ends in Heartbreak Against DR Congo

In a gripping round-of-16 match at the African Nations Cup, Egypt, under coach Rui Vitória, faced a heartbreaking exit after a penalty shootout defeat to the Democratic Republic of Congo. The intense battle, which concluded in a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time, escalated to a high-stakes penalty shootout, ending 8-7 in favor of DR Congo.

The game commenced with both teams displaying vigorous energy, and Egypt quickly created scoring opportunities. However, despite their efforts, including a notable miss from Ahmed Hegazi and a thwarted shot by Mohamed Elneny, the Pharaohs struggled to capitalize. DR Congo's threat materialized in the 20th minute with a free-kick that narrowly missed Egypt's goal, setting the stage for a tense encounter.

The deadlock was broken in the 37th minute when DR Congo's Meschack Elia found the net, exploiting a deflected ball to score with a precise header. Egypt responded just before the half-time whistle, with Mostafa Mohamed converting a penalty to level the score after Ahmed Hegazi was fouled inside the box, bringing the first half to a dramatic 1-1 conclusion.

Adjustments were made in the second half, with Vitória introducing fresh legs in an attempt to secure a victory. Despite Egypt's intensified efforts and a clear chance by substitute Mahmoud Hamada, the regular time ended in a draw, pushing the match into extra time and subsequently to the nail-biting penalty shootout that saw Egypt's campaign come to an end.