Egypt, the record seven-time champions of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), saw their journey in the tournament come to an end despite resorting to a traditional ritual of sacrificing a cow for luck. In a dramatic last-16 match on Sunday, Egypt lost 8-7 in a penalty shoot-out to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
According to Egypt’s team spokesman, Mohamed Morad, the country’s Football Federation sacrificed a cow earlier in the week, distributing its meat to the needy in Cairo. However, luck was not on their side as they faced a formidable opponent in the Congo DR.
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The decisive moment came when Congo DR goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi scored the winning penalty, securing their spot in the quarterfinals where they will meet Guinea. For Egypt and their star player Mohamed Salah, the dream of lifting the AFCON trophy was shattered.
In a tense encounter that ended 1-1 after regulation time, Egypt’s goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal missed his penalty, hitting the crossbar, while Mpasi scored against him, sealing the victory for the Congolese team.
Meschack Elia opened the scoring for Congo DR with a close-range header, but Egypt’s Mostafa Mohamed equalized from the penalty spot just before halftime, setting the stage for a thrilling but ultimately disappointing exit for the Pharaohs.
