Guinea and DR Congo are off to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals after their Round of 16 wins on Sunday. The Syli National secured a dramatic 1-0 victory over Equatorial Guinea while the Leopards defeated Egypt on penalty kicks.
The contest between Guinea and Equatorial Guinea was at a deadlock for most of the game. The game-winning goal came courtesy of Le Havre's Mohamed Bayo, who scored in stoppage time in the second half, playing the hero for his national team.
Guinea could count on several other Ligue 1 players for the win, as RC Lens' Morgan Guilavogui, Montpellier's Issiaga Sylla, and Stade de Reims' Ibrahim Diakité were all in the starting 11 for the victory.
🏆 #CAN2023 8e de finale
— MHSC (@MontpellierHSC) January 28, 2024
Guinée Équatoriale 🇬🇶 0-1 🇬🇳 Guinée
Issiaga Sylla était titulaire
La Guinée se qualifie pour les 1/4 👏 pic.twitter.com/gcpkjVpLDk
In the other Round of 16 contest, a dramatic result unfolded. DR Congo and Egypt found themselves deadlocked at 1-1 after 90 minutes, necessitating extra time to determine a winner.
Olympique de Marseille's Chancel Mbemba, FC Lorient's Gedeon Kalulu, and FC Nantes' Samuel Moutoussamy were in the starting 11 for DR Congo, who opened the scoring in the 37th minute.
In stoppage time of the first half, a VAR review awarded Egypt a penalty kick chance, which Nantes' Mostafa Mohamed converted to level the scoring. After 90 minutes failed to determine a winner, the game proceeded to extra time.
Egypt wouldn't start well in extra time as Mohamed Hamdy received a red card after picking up his second yellow card in the contest, resulting in the Pharaohs playing with ten men.
In a thrilling showdown that extended to penalty kicks, DR Congo emerged victorious with an 8-7 win in the shootout, securing their spot in the quarterfinals after extra time failed to decide a winner.
