RABAT, Morocco — A spectacular extra-time strike from substitute Adil Boulbina propelled Algeria into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday. The decisive moment came in the 119th minute at Rabat’s Moulay El Hassan Stadium, moments before the tense encounter seemed destined for penalties.
The match-winning play began when midfielder Ramiz Zerrouki, who had also entered as a substitute, delivered a perfectly weighted through ball that released Boulbina on the left flank. The 22-year-old forward, who plays for Qatari club Al-Duhail, advanced into the penalty area before unleashing a powerful strike that found the back of the net, triggering euphoric celebrations among the majority of the 18,837 spectators.
Boulbina’s emotional post-match comments captured the significance of his contribution: ‘I have always dreamed of playing for the national team. It is the ambition of every Algerian to play for their country and do well. I had my chance and scored, and the most important thing is that we won and qualified for the next round.’
The victory sets up a highly anticipated quarter-final clash between Algeria and Nigeria, scheduled for Saturday in Marrakesh. The Algerian squad, which won all its group stage matches, now appears as serious contenders for their third continental title, having previously lifted the trophy in 2019.
For DR Congo, the defeat represents a painful conclusion to their AFCON campaign despite their World Cup qualifying success against Nigeria last November. Coach Sebastien Desabre acknowledged his team’s effort: ‘We are obviously disappointed with the outcome. I thought it was a top-level game between two really good sides. The players gave everything. We fought to the end but unfortunately it was not enough.’
The match itself, while featuring two of Africa’s football powerhouses, failed to produce many clear scoring opportunities during regulation time. Both teams struggled with final-third execution, leading to a goalless draw after ninety minutes that extended into extra time before Boulbina’s dramatic intervention.