ALEXANDRIA, Egypt, Jul 7 – Africa Cup of Nations debutants Madagascar kept their remarkable run going on Sunday with a penalty shootout victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo after a 2-2 draw to secure a place in the quarter-finals.

Ibrahim Amada’s wonder strike put Madagascar ahead just nine minutes in at Alexandria Stadium but DR Congo responded swiftly as China-based forward Cedric Bakambu headed home his third goal in two matches.

Madagascar captain Faneva Andriatsima nodded the Indian Ocean islanders back ahead with a quarter-hour remaining only for Chancel Mbemba to haul DR Congo level at a corner in the final minute.

Marcel Tisserand and Yannick Bolasie both blazed over for DR Congo in the shootout as Madagascar prevailed 4-2 with their reward a meeting with four-time winners Ghana or 2004 champions Tunisia for a place in the semi-finals.

Marco Ilaimaharitra’s suspension forced Madagascar coach Nicolas Dupuis to alter his line-up for the first time in the tournament with Rayan Raveloson deputising in midfield for a team that shocked Nigeria 2-0 to advance as group winners.

Britt Assombalonga replaced the injured Jonathan Bolingi in the lone change to the DR Congo side that trounced Zimbabwe 4-0, with captain Youssouf Mulumbu describing their qualification as a “miracle” following two opening losses.

Madagascan President Andry Rajoelina chartered a 480-seater plane to take fans to Egypt, and the travelling support were soon rejoicing when Amada blasted a sensational 25-yard strike that tailed away from Ley Matampi and flew in off the post.

The jubilant celebrations were halted midway through the first half though when Bakambu slipped free of the Madagascar centre-backs to glance in Glody Ngonda’s bending cross.

– Last-gasp Mbemba –

Mbemba smashed over as another left-wing cross found the Malagasy defence in trouble, but this was a far more balanced contest than the last meeting — a 6-1 triumph for DR Congo in a 2017 Cup of Nations qualifier.

That hiding was the darkest day in Malagasy football history but they have undergone a dramatic transformation, and nearly regained the lead 10 minutes after the break when Jerome Mombris embarked on a driving run, his shot spilled by Matampi with Charles Andriamahitsinoro agonisingly hitting the rebound wide.

A battling Madagascar eventually regained the lead against a nation ranked 59 places above them when Andriatsima flung himself at a Romain Metanire cross following a superb long-busting run from the right-back.

Bolasie’s tumble in the area provoked furious protests from DR Congo, with VAR not in use until the next round, but the Leopards conjured up another escape act in the 90th minute as an unmarked Mbemba headed in a corner to force extra time.

Madagascar goalkeeper Melvin Adrien kept his team level in extra time with a string of vital saves, the best an instinctive one-handed stop to repel another Mbemba header, while some desperate defending allowed the ‘Barea’ to take it to a shootout and add a further chapter to their Egyptian fairytale.

%thecontent%%avatar%

%author%

%authornetworks%

%authordescription%

%authornetworks%

Comments

%sidebar%","opedarticle":"","sidead1":"ff","sidead2":"dd","sidead3":"","homestory":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More--","taxonomyitem":"

%title%

%game%%date%Read More------","fixtureitem":"%name1%%score1%VS%score2%%name2%%time%","home":"rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn 1rn 2rn 3rn 4rn 5rn rn rn rn

Chager wins third career Safari Rally title

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn Read Articlern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrnrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

More Headlines

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Madagascar edge DR Congo on penalties to keep dream run alivern

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 6 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn USA beat Netherlands to retain World Cuprn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 15 minutes ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Marquez wins seventh consecutive German MotoGPrn

rn rn Motorsrn rn rn rn 5 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Egyptians light up stadium in tribute to fallen fansrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 5 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Pogba included in Man Utd squad for pre-season tourrn

rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn 5 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

rn Fallout runs deep as Salah, Egypt flop at AFCONrn

rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn 5 hours ago rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnrn rn rn

Most Popular

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Stars AFCON last 16 hopes quashed by Beninrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Walcott leads Everton stars in Kenyarn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Everton making Brazilians cry with joy at Coparn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Bwire stars as Sharks beat Everton in Nairobirn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Matasi one of the best-Ethiopia's Mebraturn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Golfrn rn rn rn rn South Africau2019s Thimba wins Karen Mastersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn All in or nothing as Stars face Senegalrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn rn rn rn Harambee Stars shift focus to CHAN qualifiersrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Footballrn rn rn rn rn Pienaar, Osman tip Sharks to overcome Everton challengern rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

All Sports

rn trn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Madagascar edge DR Congo on penalties to keep dream run alive

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

USA beat Netherlands to retain World Cup

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Marquez wins seventh consecutive German MotoGP

rn rn rn Motorsrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Egyptians light up stadium in tribute to fallen fans

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Pogba included in Man Utd squad for pre-season tour

rn rn rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Poll Question

rn rn ntnttnttntt

WILL EGYPT WIN 2019 AFCON AT HOME?

ntt
• YES
ntt
• NO
ntt

View Results

ntnn Loading ...n rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Fallout runs deep as Salah, Egypt flop at AFCON

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Federer, Nadal, Djokovic star on ‘Manic Monday’

rn rn rn Gamern rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Egypt FA chief sacks coach, then quits after shock AFCON exit

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Egypt eliminated by South Africa in AFCON

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn rn

Nigeria eliminate holders Cameroon in AFCON

rn rn rn AFCON 2019rn rn Saturday, 6th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn Read Morern rn rn rn rn rn --rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn Load More Storiesrn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Sponsored

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn

Featured

rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Madagascar edge DR Congo on penalties to keep dream run alivern rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn USA beat Netherlands to retain World Cuprn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Chager wins third career Safari Rally titlern rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Bwire stars as Sharks beat Everton in Nairobirn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Marquez wins seventh consecutive German MotoGPrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rn rnrnttt","sidebar":"rn rn rntrn rn t

Most Popular

rn rn t rn t

rn tStars AFCON last 16 hopes quashed by Beninrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Tuesday, 2nd Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tWalcott leads Everton stars in Kenyarn

rn Footballrn rn Saturday, 6th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tEverton making Brazilians cry with joy at Coparn

rn Footballrn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tBwire stars as Sharks beat Everton in Nairobirn

rn Footballrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tMatasi one of the best-Ethiopia's Mebraturn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Friday, 5th Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tSouth Africau2019s Thimba wins Karen Mastersrn

rn Golfrn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tAll in or nothing as Stars face Senegalrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Monday, 1st Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tHarambee Stars shift focus to CHAN qualifiersrn

rn AFCON 2019rn rn Wednesday, 3rd Jul 2019rn rn rn t

rn tPienaar, Osman tip Sharks to overcome Everton challengern

rn Footballrn rn Thursday, 4th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rnrn rn rn rn t

Featured

rn rn trn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Madagascar edge DR Congo on penalties to keep dream run alivern rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn USA beat Netherlands to retain World Cuprn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn Capital Sportrn Chager wins third career Safari Rally titlern rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn ALEX ISABOKErn Bwire stars as Sharks beat Everton in Nairobirn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rnrn rn rn rn rn AGENCE FRANCE PRESSErn Marquez wins seventh consecutive German MotoGPrn rn rn Viewrn rn Sunday, 7th Jul 2019rn rn rn rn rn rn rn trn rn rn rn","articleerror":"

Oops...Something broke on our end

"},"messages":{"accessdenied":"Access to the account has been denied ","httperror":"Oops, something went wrong...please try again","contactgoogle":"Contacting Google","firsttime":"Seems this is your first time with this signin system. Please wait as we get your name","signinsuccess":"Cool. You're now signed in. This signin will close automatically now","pendingrequest":"Still communicating with the server","signedout":"Seems you were signed out. Try submitting again after you've been signed in","trackingerror":"Couldn't track Analytics","xhrnotconfigured":"To webmaster: Please confirm the xhr/ajax receptor is configured on the server","loadmore":"Load more stories"}}; /* ]]> */