Algeria beat DR Congo in additional time and can face Nigeria on Saturday within the quarterfinals of soccer’s Africa Cup of Nations.
Printed On 6 Jan 2026
A thunderous strike by substitute Adil Boulbina deep in additional time settled a tense encounter as Algeria beat the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 of their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 tie.
The sport on the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco on Tuesday was edging in direction of a penalty shootout when Boulbina, a ahead who performs membership soccer in Qatar, was launched on the left within the 119th minute and superior into the realm earlier than unleashing a vicious strike into the online.
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The second of magic sparked wild celebrations throughout the stadium, with the vast majority of the 18,837 followers in attendance backing Algeria.
The 2019 champions, who gained all their group video games, are trying like critical contenders to win a 3rd continental title, however now face an enchanting quarterfinal showdown with Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria in Marrakesh on Saturday.
The result is a painful one for the Congolese, who got here into the AFCON with large ambitions and had been hoping to arrange one other conflict with Nigeria, having defeated the Tremendous Eagles on penalties in a World Cup qualifying play-off in November.
The Leopards will now not less than be capable of console themselves with the very fact they’ve an intercontinental playoff to come back in March, the place a win towards both New Caledonia or Jamaica will see them qualify for a primary World Cup since 1974.
Algeria, having already assured a berth on the finals in North America, stay targeted for now on going all the way in which in Morocco.
The match itself, between two of the continent’s main nations, had the makings of the tie of the spherical however by no means fairly lived as much as its billing.
There was an absence of high quality within the remaining third from either side regardless of all of the attacking expertise on the pitch, with neither captain Riyad Mahrez nor the thrilling Ibrahim Maza lasting 90 minutes for Vladimir Petkovic’s Algerian group.
Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe headed simply vast from a nook for DR Congo and Maza fired narrowly previous the objective from the sting of the field on the different finish within the first half.
An Edo Kaymbe shot fizzed in from vary that compelled a very good save from Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane was the closest both group got here within the second half because the match drifted to additional time.
Algeria had been the extra constantly threatening group, although, and commenced to show the screw within the additional half-hour, with Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi saving effectively from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah in fast succession within the 111th minute.
However a shootout appeared an inevitability till Ramiz Zerrouki and Boulbina, who each emerged from the bench collectively within the second half of additional time, mixed for the successful objective.
Zerrouki launched Boulbina with a terrific move in behind, and the 22-year-old Al-Duhail participant did the remaining.
