DR Congo goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi slotted the penalty that earned his side an epic 8-7 victory over Egypt in their last-16 shoot-out, stepping up to provide the decisive moment on a tense night following a 1-1 draw in San Pedro.
Mpasi was the ninth player from his team to take a penalty and admitted to some doubt, but made history for his side with a first Cup of Nations victory over Egypt in 50 years.
His kick followed that of Morocco keeper Gabaski, who had sent his shot wide off the crossbar to give Mpasi the chance.
"I tried to stay calm. I tried to distract Gabaski from his shot and I succeeded. After that, I concentrated on getting my technique right," Mpasi said. "Before my shot, I thought about how I had missed in training, but tonight it worked."
DR Congo now face Guinea in a quarterfinal clash in Abidjan on Friday, and they will view that as an excellent chance to advance to the last-4.
The French-born gloveman has played all his career in the country of his birth, coming through the development ranks at Paris St Germain and now with second-tier Rodez.
But he hopes there is a bit of history that repeats itself, with the Ivory Coast the scene of a past triumph for the Congolese when they lifted the 2009 African Nations Championship in the west African country.
“We're going to rest well and then we'll take it match after match. All this without forgetting that DR Congo won a continental title in Ivory Coast. Maybe that's a sign," he said.