Substitute Adil Boulbina struck deep into extra time to send Algeria into the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, sealing a hard-fought 1–0 victory over DR Congo in Rabat.
With penalties looming after a tense and goalless contest, Boulbina delivered the decisive moment in the 118th minute, just five minutes after coming off the bench.
The forward cut inside from the right and curled a superb strike beyond goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, whose heroics had kept DR Congo level for much of the match.
The breakthrough finally separated two evenly matched sides who had cancelled each other out during regulation time and the early stages of extra time, in a contest defined by discipline, physicality and missed chances.
Algeria began on the front foot, enjoying early territory and possession, but struggled to create clear openings against a well-organised Congolese defence.
Despite sustained pressure, Mpasi-Nzau was rarely seriously tested in the opening exchanges.
DR Congo looked increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack. Cedric Bakambu came close midway through the first half, forcing Luca Zidane into a smart save before Axel Tuanzebe’s header from the resulting corner drifted narrowly wide.
Bakambu then headed just past the post again moments later from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross.
Algeria responded before the interval when Ibrahim Maza surged forward on the break, but his low effort slipped inches wide of the target.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with Algeria probing and DR Congo threatening sporadically.
Mohamed Amoura squandered a golden opportunity with 12 minutes remaining, failing to bend his shot beyond Mpasi-Nzau, while at the other end Zineddine Belaid produced a vital intervention to deny Fiston Mayele from close range.
As fatigue set in during extra time, the intensity increased. Mpasi-Nzau produced two outstanding saves to keep out Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah, appearing to push the contest towards a penalty shootout.
Boulbina, however, had other ideas. His moment of quality in the dying minutes finally broke Congolese resistance and sparked celebrations among the Algerian players and supporters.
Algeria now advance to a quarter-final showdown against Nigeria in Marrakesh, as their bid for a second AFCON title in six years gathers momentum.
