Mohamed Salah's hope for AFCON glory are over as Egypt have been knocked out of the tournament after losing to Congo on penalties on Sunday evening.
Salah was forced to watch the game on TV after returning to Liverpool last week after picking up a hamstring injury during Egypt's 2-2 draw against Ghana.
Salah was hoping to recover in time for the AFCON final but his side were knocked out of the competition by Congo on Sunday evening.
Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal missed his penalty in the shootout as the Democratic Republic of Congo claimed an epic 8-7 victory.
Both sides were forced to settle the odds via the penalty shootout after a tense 1-1 draw in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 clash in San Pedro on Sunday.
Abou Gabal clipped the crossbar with his effort and then opposite number Lionel Mpasi scored against him as record seven-times winners Egypt bowed out.
As a result, Congo will now play Guinea in the quarter-finals of the competition in Abidjan on Friday afternoon.
Meschack Elia gave DR Congo the lead in the game when he headed in virtually on the goal-line, but the advantage lasted nine minutes before Mostafa Mohamed scored his fourth goal of the tournament from the penalty spot on the stroke of halftime.
Egypt midfielder Mohamed Hamdy received a red card in extra time, after which The Pharaohs, without injured talisman Salah, stopped attacking and held on as the game went to a shootout.
Salah will have been disappointed to see his side crash out of the tournament, especially as he was targeting a return to the competition.
Salah returned home to Liverpool after picking up the injury, stating he was going to work with the medical team at Anfield to ensure he made it back for the time.
However, Salah was forced
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