Salah AFCON hope dashed as DR Congo knock out Egypt

Mohamed Salah‘s hope for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) glory has been dashed as DR Congo knocked Egypt out of the tournament on penalties on Sunday evening.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored the 18th penalty as DR Congo produced the latest shock at the 2023 AFCON by knocking seven-time champions Egypt out to reach the quarter-finals following a 1-1 draw after extra time.

Salah was forced to watch the game on TV after returning to Liverpool last week after picking up a hamstring injury during Egypt’s 2-2 draw against Ghana.

Salah was hoping to recover in time for the 2023 AFCON final but his side were knocked out of the competition by Congo on Sunday evening.

Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi converted the winning spot-kick in San-Pedro after fellow shot-stopper Mohamed Abou Gabal had seen his kick strike the bar and fly over.

A tense last-16 clash finished 1-1 after extra time with Meschack Elia scoring on 37 minutes for DR Congo and Mostafa Mohamed equalising in first-half added time from a penalty.

Liverpool star Salah was injured in a group match against Ghana and returned to his club, who said he would probably only be able to return to the tournament if Egypt reached the final.

DR Congo will play Guinea in the quarter-finals at the Alassane Ouattara Stadium on Friday after the Syli National beat Equatorial Guinea 1-0 earlier on Sunday.