Africa Cup Of Nations
Result: Madagascar 2-2 Congo DR (Madagascar won 4-2 on penalties)
Date: 07 July 2019
Venue: Alexandria Stadium
Debutants Madagascar continued their fairy-tale Africa Cup of Nations campaign by defeating Congo DR on penalties to advance to the quarter-finals.
The islanders were aggressive early in the match and were rewarded in the ninth minute as Ibrahim Amada sent them ahead with a sensational strike from range that found the top corner. The Leopards got themselves back in the game in the 21st minute as Cedric Bakambu headed home a cross from Ngonda Muzinga at the back post, following a quick attack from their own half. Florent Ibenge's charges got their confidence back after equalising and Chancel Mbemba had a chance to give them a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute after being sent through on goal by Muzinga but he struck his shot over the bar. Following a frenetic start in the first two quarters of the first stanza, the sides were going easy on the attacks in the closing stages, with chances few and far between to go to the break level pegging at 1-1. Congo DR took the initiative to attack in the early stages of the second stanza but Nicolas Dupuis' men almost restored their lead ten minutes in as Jerome Mombris had a clear sight of goal but was denied by shot-stopper Ley Matampi while Charles Andriamatsinoro failed to capitalise on a rebound. Bakambu should have bagged his brace for the Leopards two minutes before the hour-mark after bring sent clear on goal but with only the goalkeeper Melvin Adrien to beat, he scuffed his shot, giving the Malagasy shot-stopper a comfortable save. Congo needed a creative spark in the last third with 20 minutes remaining, to break-down the rigid Madagascar defence and they called upon Yannick Bolasie in place of Akolo. However, Faneva Andriatsima restored the lead for the tournament debutants in the last 13 minutes with a header at the far post following a cross from Romain Metanire. Congo were not losing heart in the closing phase of the encounter and Mbemba eventually levelled matters in the last minute of regulation time with a powerful header on the far side of the box, following a great delivery by Meschak Elia from a corner-kick to send the game to extra-time. The Leopards had the upper hand in the early exchanges of the first period of extra-time and nearly went ahead in the tenth minute of added time after Metanire guided a header towards the bottom post following another good cross from Elia, but shot-stopper Adrien made a last-ditch save. Bolasie almost snatched a sensational winner for Congo in the last five minutes of extra-time with a curling strike from the edge of the box, that missed the far post by inches after a quick shot-corner by Elia as the encounter went to penalties, where Madagascar held their nerve to triumph 4-2 and booked their spot in the last for the first time in their history. 
