Late Stunner Sends Algeria To AFCON Quarter-Finals

Photo by Leopold Soglo/Gallo Images

Algeria struck late in extra-time to secure a 1-0 win over the Democratic Republic of Congo and sealed their spot in Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.

2025 Africa Cup of Nations

Result: Algeria 1-0 Congo DR

Date: 06 January 2025

Venue: Stade Prince Moulay Hassan

The Desert Foxes recalled goalkeeper Luca Zidane, Riyad Mahrez and Mohamed Amoura, who were rested during the 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea last week, while Cedrick Bakambu continued to lead the attack for Leopards, who thrashed Botswana 3-0 in the final group game.

The game was played at a lively pace in the early stages of the first half, with both Algeria and Congo seeing an equal amount of the ball in the opening 15 minutes although clear-cut chances were hard to come by at both ends of the pitch.

The Leopards did go close to opening the scoring on 26 minutes when Cedric Bakambu surged into the box after a solo run and looked to place the ball into the far corner but Zidane pulled off a fine save. Axel Tuanzebe also went close for Congo a few minutes later with a towering header that sailed over the crossbar.

The Congolese grew stronger in the final ten minutes of the first period and enjoyed a lot of the possession in the opposition half as Bakambu was proving to be a handful for the Algerian defence, but they were unable to find the breakthrough before the interval.

The Algerian suffered a blow at the start of the second half as influential midfielder Ismael Bennacer was unable to continue due to an injury and was replaced Himad Abdelli.

The tempo was a lot slower in the second period with the Desert Foxes enjoying more of the ball, however the struggle to carve out chances in the 18-yard area as they only looked to threaten from dead-ball situations, none of which troubled goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau.

After a quiet spell in the second stanza, Algeria nearly broke the deadlock in the 83rd minute after Ibrahim Maza got on the end of a cross in the box and sent his header inches wide of the upright, which proved to be the final chance of the period, as the clash moved to extra-time.

The deadlock was finally broken in the 118th minute when Adil Boulbina collected a pass from Ramiz Zerrouki and cut inside before sending a superb strike into the top corner from the edge of the area to send Algeria to the quarter-final stage of the competition.

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