In a grueling 120-minute marathon at the Moulay Hassan Stadium, Algeria edged out a resilient DR Congo 1-0, thanks to a moment of pure magic that spared both teams the lottery of a penalty shootout.
The Attrition War: 90 Minutes of Deadlock
The game began as a high-stakes tactical battle. Algeria, coming off a perfect group stage record, found themselves frustrated by a "Leopards" defense that refused to crack. DR Congo nearly took the lead in the first half when Cedric Bakambu met an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross, only to see his header flash agonizingly wide.
Algeria’s star man, Riyad Mahrez, showed flashes of brilliance, but as the match wore on, the North African giants struggled to find their rhythm. The tension peaked in the second half when midfield engine Ismael Bennacer was forced off with an injury, sending ripples of anxiety through the Algerian bench.
Extra Time: The Boulbina Bombshell
As fatigue set in during extra time, the game finally opened up. DR Congo’s keeper, Lionel Mpasi, looked set to be the hero of the night, producing two world-class saves to deny Baghdad Bounedjah.
But in the 119th minute, with fans already preparing their nerves for penalties, the breakthrough finally arrived. Ramiz Zerrouki carved open the Congolese backline with a surgical pass to 22-year-old Adil Boulbina. The young star took one touch to set himself and unleashed a curling right-footed strike into the top corner, sending the Algerian fans into a frenzy of flares and music.
Match Statistics
| Category | Algeria | DR Congo |
| Score | 1 | 0 |
| Shots (On Target) | 14 (5) | 9 (2) |
| Possession | 56% | 44% |
| Yellow Cards | 1 | 3 |
What’s Next?
Algeria’s hunt for their third AFCON title continues as they march into the Quarter-Finals. However, the road only gets tougher: they are now scheduled for a mouth-watering "Clash of Titans" against Nigeria on January 10.
For DR Congo, it is a bitter pill to swallow after a valiant effort, as they turn their focus toward the 2026 World Cup qualifiers amidst ongoing squad eligibility discussions.