Dramatic late Algeria winner sets up Nigeria quarterfinal at 2025 AFCON

Algeria defeated the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 tie thanks to a thunderous strike from substitute Adil Boulbina deep in extra time.

When Boulbina, a forward who plays club football in Qatar, was released on the left in the 119th minute and advanced into the area before unleashing a vicious strike into the net, the game at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, was on the verge of a penalty shootout.

The stadium’s 18, 837 fans, who overwhelmingly support Algeria, threw wild celebrations after the magic occurred.

The 2019 champions, who won all of their group games, are now in a fascinating quarterfinal showdown with Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria in Marrakech on Saturday, with a serious chance of winning a third continental title.

The Congolese, who had big ambitions going into the AFCON and had already lost to the Super Eagles on penalties in a play-off qualifying match in November, is dealing with the outcome.

The Leopards will now at least be able to accept that they will be able to rest in the middle of their first World Cup since 1974 with a win over either New Caledonia or Jamaica in the intercontinental playoff that will take place in March.

Algeria will continue to concentrate on Morocco for the moment, having already been guaranteed a spot in the North American finals.

The actual match, which pitted two of the continent’s leading nations, had the potential to be the final game, but it never quite lived up to its name.

Despite Vladimir Petkovic’s Algerian team’s impressive attacking talent, neither Riyad Mahrez nor Ibrahim Maza, who had 90 minutes to play, managed to maintain quality in the final third.

Axel Tuanzebe, a defensive partner for Burnley, fired just wide from a corner for DR Congo, and Maza fired a close, narrow-fire shot past the goal at the other end of the box at the other end of the first half.

Both teams came within a few seconds of each other when an Edo Kaymbe shot fizzed in from range and caused Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane to make a good save as extra time dragged on.

Algeria, however, started to turn things around in the extra-hundai when Lionel Mpasi, the country’s goalkeeper, saved well from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah quickly in the 111th minute.

However, a shootout appeared to be inevitable until Ramiz Zerrouki and Boulbina combined for the winning goal in the second half of extra time.