AFCON: Algeria beat DR Congo 1-0 in extra time, to face Nigeria in quarter-finals
The Desert Foxes of Algeria secured a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo on Tuesday in the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), leaving them a quarter-final showdown with Nigeria in Marrakesh on Saturday.
It was the late strike by substitute Adil Boulbina at the 119th minute which settled the tense encounter at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat.
Boulbina, who was making his second appearance off the bench at the tournament, was overcome with emotion after the match.
“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,” he said.
Algeria won all their group-stage games, making them one of the strong contenders for the AFCON 2026 championship title.
The defeat was however a big blow for DR Congo. Speaking after the match, the team’s coach Sebastien Desabre said: “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.”
A win for the Congolese would have earned them a rematch with the Nigerian side at the quarter-final encounter, having truncated the Super Eagles’ qualification chances for the FIFA 2026 World Cup, after emerging victorious over the Eagles on penalties at the World Cup play-off in November.
The Super Eagles who were unable to qualify for the FIFA 2026 World Cup will now face Algeria on Saturday in Marrakesh for the quarter-finals, after securing a 4-0 victory over Mozambique on Monday night during their encounter in the round of 16.
