AFCON 2023: Fans React After DR Congo Eliminated Egypt on Penalties to Reach Quarter Finals

• Egypt suffered elimination from the 2023 AFCON via a penalty shootout
• The Pharaohs lost 8-7 on penalties to DR Congo in the last 16 encounter
• Goalkeeper, Mohamed Gabaski has been faulted after he missed a shot

Football fans took to social media to express their thoughts on Egypt's elimination from the 2023 TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations in the knockout stage.

The Pharaohs, who have carved out a niche for themselves as penalty experts at the biennial competition, were beaten at their own game by DR Congo.

Having taken the lead just after the half-hour mark through Meschack Elia, Egypt pegged back their opponents on the stroke of half-time via a penalty from Mostafa Mohammed, as cited by MWN.

With little to separate the two sides over 90 minutes, the tie had to be settled via a post-match penalty shootout, which was supposed to be the forte of the seven-time African champions.

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Egypt's Gabaski: From AFCON hero to zero

However, Mohamed Abou Gabal, better known as Gabaski - who was the hero for the Pharaohs in the last edition with his penalty heroics - proved to be the villain this time around.

The 35-year-old goalkeeper missed his spot kick while his opposite number, Lionel Mpasi-Nzau effortlessly scored his attempt to send DR Congo through to the quarter-finals.

Fans troll Gabaski and Egypt

After the game, fans couldn't resist trolling the North Africans as they were beaten in their own area of expertise, and many specifically targeted Gabaski with criticism.

@theyawofosu wrote:

"Lmaooo, Egypt played for penalties only to go and lose. I love this so much."

Another user, @_owurakuampofo, made a similar assertion:

"Egypt are out. Gabaski went from potential hero to zero real quick."

@Fentuo_ added:

"Egypt deserve to go out! Gabaski is not a penalty expert after all. Not good at catching them, not good at scoring them!"

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@everytinsom_UTD jokingly described the Egyptian goalkeeper as:

"Gabaski is a fraud."

@Sammy_sege01 was strong-worded with his troll:

"And they are full of pride imagine that useless Hegazi. Even the keeper was busy wasting time on purpose. Mumu Team."

Gabaski's bottle antics fail spectacularly

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that Egypt goalkeeper, Gabaski was unable to replicate his penalty-saving heroics from AFCON 2021, missing a penalty in the shootout against DR Congo.

The National Bank of Egypt shot-stopper, renowned for his ability to save penalties, had previously played a crucial role in sending the seven-time champions to the final in Cameroon.

Despite appearing for the shootouts in Ivory Coast with his famous bottle, Gabaski couldn't make a single save in the post-match shootout, leading to Egypt's Round of 16 elimination.