I’m a big fan of superb athletes doing incredible, unexpected things on the field. I particularly love to watch pros pulling off incredible feats without even looking, whether it’s Roberto Firmino’s devilish no-look goals or the NFL’s Patrick Mahomes completing no-look passes. The most important part of these magnificent maneuvers, however, is actually pulling them off. If you fail, you’ll never hear the end of it; just ask Mario Balotelli.
Unfortunately for Eric Bailly, he may never hear the end of his attempted no-look shot.
Ivory Coast center back Bailly was the only player to miss his attempt in a penalty shootout as Egypt advanced to the AFCON quarterfinals with a 5-4 shootout victory after a 0-0 draw on Wednesday. Bailly took a casual approach to the ball before looking to the right while sending his shot tamely to the left. Substitute goalkeeper Mohamed Abou Gabal tipped the shot onto the crossbar to give the Pharaohs the margin they needed to move on from a mesmerizing Round of 16 match.
Eric Bailly Penalty Miss vs. Egypt
The Bailly penalty miss came at the start of the third round of shots and was the only failed attempt.
Mohamed Salah converted on the 10th kick of the shootout to send Egypt into a quarterfinal showdown with Morocco on Sunday.
Mo Salah sends Egypt to the #AFCON2021 quarterfinals!
They will face Achraf Hakimi’s Morocco #TotalEnergiesAFCON2021 | #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/CSGmbXZOJe— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 26, 2022
It was a thrilling finish to a thrilling match, even though there were no goals scored. (See the full highlights below.) The teams combined for 34 shots (21-13 Egypt) and 13 shots on target (8-5 Ivory Coast), including this cracking effort from long range.
Off the crossbar!!!
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 26, 2022
Gabal came into the match in the 88th minute for Mohamed El-Shenawy, who was injured making a save. Gabal came up with one of the game’s best saves in the 104th minute before his shootout heroics.
Gabal with the SAVE! The goalkeeper keeps things leveled as we head to the second half of extra time!
Will we need a penalty shootout to decide the winner?Watch #TeamCotedIvoire vs #TeamEgypt live now on beIN SPORTS!#AFCON2021 #CIVEGY
— beIN SPORTS USA (@beINSPORTSUSA) January 26, 2022
The record seven-time AFCON champion Pharaohs were eliminated in the Round of 16 in 2019 after finishing as runners-up in 2017. They’ll now face one of the few remaining favorites in Morocco after earlier upsets knocked out Algeria, Ghana and Nigeria.
