Algeria Edge Out DR Congo in Thrilling Africa Cup of Nations Victory
In an event that was nothing short of dramatic, Algerian forward Adel Boulbina scored an exquisite winner two minutes into extra time to send Algeria soaring into the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo at Rabat's Stade Mohammed V stadium.
Boulbina orchestrated the winning move, as he cut inside from the left side of the box and unleashed a rocket shot that flew past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to seal Algeria's spot in the quarter-finals. The match had been level at 0-0 after normal time, and DR Congo were left to rue their missed chances as they struggled to find the breakthrough.
Despite having several gilt-edged opportunities, including one from the late Fiston Mayele that was expertly cleared by Algeria goalkeeper Himad Abdelli, DR Congo were unable to capitalise on their dominance in terms of possession. For Algeria, the victory marked a significant moment in their African Cup of Nations campaign as they set their sights on securing a third title.
Their next opponents will be Nigeria, with whom they face off on January 10th. In contrast, DR Congo's disappointing exit marks an unfortunate end to what had been an impressive showing by Vito Pericard's team. Their World Cup qualifiers now become even more crucial for the DRC as they look to rectify their fortunes in the months ahead.
Algeria's last-minute winner was all too typical of the drama and unpredictability that has characterised this edition of the tournament, with each match leaving its teams reeling and questioning how matters had unfolded. As Algeria celebrates their quarter-final spot, DR Congo will have to dust themselves down and prepare for another challenge in the World Cup qualifiers - a journey they will undoubtedly hope is more fruitful than their African adventure so far.
The 120 minutes of extra-time were an intense test of endurance, but ultimately Algeria emerged as champions. Boulbina's match-winner sealed his side's passage into the quarter-finals, sending shockwaves through the stadium and the wider football world. As for DR Congo, the prospect of their next tournament – albeit a World Cup qualifier - may prove to be some solace in this trying period.
Ultimately though, Algeria will be delighted with the outcome of their match against DR Congo, as it means they have secured their quarter-final spot at the Africa Cup of Nations.
In an event that was nothing short of dramatic, Algerian forward Adel Boulbina scored an exquisite winner two minutes into extra time to send Algeria soaring into the quarter-finals with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Democratic Republic of Congo at Rabat's Stade Mohammed V stadium.
Boulbina orchestrated the winning move, as he cut inside from the left side of the box and unleashed a rocket shot that flew past goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi to seal Algeria's spot in the quarter-finals. The match had been level at 0-0 after normal time, and DR Congo were left to rue their missed chances as they struggled to find the breakthrough.
Despite having several gilt-edged opportunities, including one from the late Fiston Mayele that was expertly cleared by Algeria goalkeeper Himad Abdelli, DR Congo were unable to capitalise on their dominance in terms of possession. For Algeria, the victory marked a significant moment in their African Cup of Nations campaign as they set their sights on securing a third title.
Their next opponents will be Nigeria, with whom they face off on January 10th. In contrast, DR Congo's disappointing exit marks an unfortunate end to what had been an impressive showing by Vito Pericard's team. Their World Cup qualifiers now become even more crucial for the DRC as they look to rectify their fortunes in the months ahead.
Algeria's last-minute winner was all too typical of the drama and unpredictability that has characterised this edition of the tournament, with each match leaving its teams reeling and questioning how matters had unfolded. As Algeria celebrates their quarter-final spot, DR Congo will have to dust themselves down and prepare for another challenge in the World Cup qualifiers - a journey they will undoubtedly hope is more fruitful than their African adventure so far.
The 120 minutes of extra-time were an intense test of endurance, but ultimately Algeria emerged as champions. Boulbina's match-winner sealed his side's passage into the quarter-finals, sending shockwaves through the stadium and the wider football world. As for DR Congo, the prospect of their next tournament – albeit a World Cup qualifier - may prove to be some solace in this trying period.
Ultimately though, Algeria will be delighted with the outcome of their match against DR Congo, as it means they have secured their quarter-final spot at the Africa Cup of Nations.
! I'm still on edge after watching that thrilling 1-0 win for Algeria over DR Congo in the African Cup of Nations 
. Adel Boulbina's stunning winner two minutes into extra time was pure magic 
. The tension was palpable as both teams battled it out, and Algeria's goalkeeper Himad Abdelli was a total hero for expertly clearing that gilt-edged chance from Fiston Mayele 
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. And what a disappointment their exit from the tournament must be, especially considering how well they'd been playing so far 
. But for Algeria, this win is a huge boost to their African Cup of Nations campaign and sets them up nicely for their quarter-final showdown with Nigeria 
. Bring on January 10th! 
120 mins just to get that one goal Algeria's goalkeeper Himad Abdelli is like a superhero 
for saving those chances from DR Congo, man they were dominating possession but just couldn't score. Boulbina's finish was insane tho 
rocket shot, gotta see it again. Nigeria next, can't wait to see how that one plays out 
️
they didnt look back after boulbina scored that winner 
and now they're one step closer to winning the whole thing 
meanwhile, dr congo is gonna have to regroup and try again 
algeria's team work was on point and their defense was solid 
I mean, my friend's team lost to Algeria in the African Cup of Nations last year and it was so frustrating for him... anyway, this Algerian guy Boulbina is like a superhero for scoring that goal at 2 minutes into extra time!!! 
. I mean, Congo was totally dominating and Algeria had zero chances... like, literally ZERO. And then Boulbina just pops up out of nowhere with a winner in extra time? It's so unfair to DR Congo, they're the ones who deserved it more 
. And now Algeria gets to move on to Nigeria, which is gonna be a tough draw for them too. I'm not holding my breath for Algeria to win their third title, though... they've been here before and failed 
.
I feel so bad for DR Congo, they were totally dominating but just couldn't find the back of the net when it mattered most 
You gotta respect Algeria's determination to push through and get that win in extra time! I mean, 120 minutes is a huge commitment from both teams, but Algeria's got some serious spirit 
. Can't say I'm surprised though, they were having some major possession issues throughout the match 
. It’s always tough when you miss out in a big match like this. Algeria are gonna be a force to be reckoned with now though 
. I mean, how do you not score from those clear-cut opportunities? 
. Algeria's quarter-final spot against Nigeria is gonna be a tough one, but I got faith in them 
️ – they've got their World Cup qualifiers to focus on now 
. Bring on the next tournament, guys! 
. Nigeria will be tough opponents, but I think Algerian team is gonna give it a go 
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. Some teams just can't handle the pressure 
. Algeria's victory marks a significant turning point in their campaign, and I'm excited to see how they'll navigate the quarter-finals against Nigeria 
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. Despite their possession dominance, they couldn't capitalize on their chances, which ultimately proved costly 
. The unpredictability is what makes football so thrilling – and Algeria's late winner was the perfect reminder of that 
. Their World Cup qualifiers are gonna be tough, but at least they can take solace in knowing they gave it their all 
Algeria is looking good to take down Nigeria next and maybe even go all the way for that third Africa Cup of Nations title 
this is gonna be a great tournament