Algeria defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo in extra time and will face Nigeria in the African Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Saturday.
Published January 6, 2026
Algeria defeated the Democratic Republic of the Congo 1-0 in the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) last-16 match, with substitute Adil Bourbina’s powerful strike ending the tense match just before extra time.
The match, played at the Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Rabat, Morocco, on Tuesday went to penalties in the 119th minute when Bulbina, a forward with Qatari club soccer, was released on the left flank, entered the area and fired a powerful shot into the net.
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The magical moment sparked a frenzied celebration inside the stadium, with the majority of the 18,837 fans in attendance rooting for Algeria.
The 2019 champions, who have won all their group games, look like strong candidates to win a third continental title, but will face an attractive quarter-final showdown with Victor Osimhen’s Nigeria in Marrakech on Saturday.
The result is painful for the Congolese, who went into AFCON with big ambitions and hoped for a rematch with Nigeria after defeating the Super Eagles on penalties in November’s World Cup qualifying play-offs.
The Leopards can at least console themselves with the fact that there will be an intercontinental play-off in March and a win against either New Caledonia or Jamaica will qualify them for their first World Cup since 1974.
Algeria have already secured a place in the North American final, but for now they are focused on making it all the way to Morocco.
The match itself, between two of the continent’s leading nations, had the potential for a round of ties, but it didn’t quite live up to expectations.
Vladimir Petkovic’s Algerian side were without captain Riyad Mahrez or the thrilling Ibrahim Maza for 90 minutes, and despite having all the attacking talent on the pitch, both teams lacked quality in the final third.
Maza fired a shot just wide of goal from the edge of the box in the first half, after Burnley defender Axel Tuanzebe headed a shot just wide of the target from a DR Congo corner kick.
The closest the two teams came was in the second half, when Ed Kaimbe’s shot was deflected on target, forcing a good save from Algeria goalkeeper Luca Zidane, sending the game into extra time.
However, the team that threatened more consistently was Algeria, who began to turn things around in the 30th minute of extra time, with Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpathi making a series of good saves from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bouneja in the 111th minute.
But a shootout seemed inevitable until Ramiz Zerlouki and Brbina, who came off the bench together, combined to score the winning goal in the second half of extra time.
Zerluki released Brbina with a nice pass behind the ball, and 22-year-old Al Duhail did the rest.
