The upcoming clash between Egypt and Congo DR in the Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 is poised to be a spectacle at the Stade Laurent Pokou on Sunday evening. The stakes are high as the winner advances to the quarter-finals, with the potential to face Equatorial Guinea or Guinea in the next round.
In a surprising turn of events, Egypt, a seven-time champion, reached the last 16 without securing a single victory in the group stages. The Pharaohs managed a total of three points from three draws, each match culminating in a 2-2 scoreline.
Rui Vitoria’s team displayed a mix of performances in the group stages. Their resilience was evident against Ghana, as they came from behind twice, but they faced challenges against Cape Verde, surrendering the lead on two occasions. Given Egypt’s history of knockout ties often going to penalty shootouts, they aim for a smoother outcome in this crucial match. Importantly, The Pharaohs have only lost one of their five AFCON encounters against Congo DR, winning three and drawing one.
Congo DR’s journey to the last 16 mirrored Egypt’s, as they also navigated the group stages without a victory, settling for three draws. The Leopards commenced with a 1-1 draw against Zambia, held group winners Morocco to another 1-1 draw, and secured their spot with a stalemate against Tanzania.
Sebastien Desabre’s side has faced challenges in recent matches, failing to secure a win in their last six and managing only one victory in their last 10, against Mauritania in World Cup qualifying. In the group stage, Congo DR scored the second-fewest goals (2) among the 16 teams in the round of 16, with only Namibia posting a lower tally.
Despite advancing from the group stage in their last four AFCON appearances, Congo DR faced early exits in 2019 (drawing 2-2 and losing 4-2 on penalties against Madagascar) and 2017 (losing 2-1 against Ghana in the quarter-final).
As these football titans clash in the round of 16, the stage is set for a battle of skill, determination, and the quest for AFCON glory. The history between the two teams adds an intriguing layer to this encounter, making it a must-watch for football enthusiasts worldwide.
The journey to the quarter-finals intensifies, and the footballing world eagerly anticipates the outcome of this marquee match that promises to captivate fans and leave an indelible mark on the AFCON landscape.
Egypt will remain without their talisman Mohamed Salah, who sustained an injury against Ghana, and the side will likely rely on Mostafa Mohamed to lead the attack, having scored in each of the three group-stage matches.
Vitoria will also have to make do without first-choice goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shennawy, who picked up an injury in the last match against Cape Verde, which should see Mohamed Abou Gabal line up between the sticks in this match.
In addition, midfielder Emam Ashour has also been ruled out of this match after suffering a concussion while trying to perform an overhead kick in training in midweek.
For Congo DR, defender Henock Inonga was forced to sit out their last match against Tanzania due to a head injury, and it is still unclear if he will be fit to feature in Sunday’s fixture against The Pharaohs.
Yoane Wissa scored The Leopards’ opening goal in this competition and will spearhead the attack once again, while Cedric Bakambu could be brought back into the starting 11 to support the Brentford attacker.
Egypt possible starting lineup:
Gabal; Hany, Hegazy, Abdelmonem, Fotouh; Fathi, Attia, Elneny; Zizo, Mohamed, Marmoush
Congo DR possible starting lineup:
Mpasi; Kalulu, Mbemba, Batubinsika, Masuaku; Pickel, Moutoussamy; Silas, Kakuta, Bakambu; Wissa
