Algeria advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals for the first time since they won the title in 2019 after beating DR Congo 1-0 in extra time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium on Tuesday night.
Vladimir Petkovic's side were far from their best, but they got the job done in the dying embers of this round-of-16 clash in Rabat when Adil Boulbina stepped off the bench to score a cracking winner in the 119th minute.
The Fennecs will now meet Nigeria at the Marrakesh Stadium on Saturday, 10 January, while the Leopards - who finished fourth in the 2023 edition - bow out early on this occasion.
The two-time winners book their place in the last eight 👏🇩🇿#SSFootball | #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 pic.twitter.com/J3FKMIq19L
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 6, 2026
Algeria saw slightly more of the ball in the first half, but they hardly threatened Lionel Mpasi's goal as DR Congo looked the more likely team to score.
A scrappy start to the game produced no clear-cut chances and it was the Leopards who had the first sniff goal on 25 minutes when Cedric Bakambu latched onto a long ball before getting off a shot that was heading wide, although Luca Zidane took no chances after palming the ball away for a corner.
DRC almost broke the deadlock from the resulting set-piece which saw Axel Tuanzebe rise above his marker to steer a header inches wide of the left post, while Bakambu failed to test Zidane five minutes later after getting his head to Aaron Wan-Bissaka's cross from the right.
The Fennecs' only opportunity came two minutes before halftime as Ibrahim Maza ran at the defence from the left and unleashed a shot that flew well wide of the right post from the edge of the box.
DRAMATIC WINNER
Fares Chaibi was presented with an early opportunity in the second half, but missed the goal with a header from Hicham Boudaoui's cross in the 53rd minute.
The crowd had to wait until the 74th minute to see the first attempt on target as Edo Kayembe forced Zidane into a smart save with a strike from range before Mpasi was called into action for the first time four minutes later to deny Anis Hadj Moussam, who cut in from the right and took aim from outside the box.
Mpasi was also required to keep out efforts from Mohamed Amoura and Maza in the space of three minutes in the closing stages, while he was relieved to see Moussam shoot straight at him on 86 minute after the ball dropped at the feet of the substitute from a corner inside the area.
A mistake from Chancel Mbemba almost proved costly on 111 minutes as Chaibi won back the ball in a dangerous position and fired off a shot that was expertly saved by Mpasi.
The contest looked to be heading to penalties when Boulbina produced a bit of magic, with the substitute cutting inside from the right and rifling a shot in off the crossbar to snatch a dramatic victory for the Fennecs.
A moment Adil Boulbina will never forget 🤩
— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) January 6, 2026
He drops his shoulder, steps inside and lasers it into the top corner 🎯🚀
📺 Stream #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 on DStv: https://t.co/B0jLrQW5cc pic.twitter.com/gs9Rh5fUA1
Algeria (0) (0) 1 (Boulbina 119')
DR Congo 0
Algeria: L. Zidane, R. Belghali, A. Mandi, R. Bensebaini, R. Ait-Nouri (Z. Belaid 71'), H. Boudaoui (R. Zerrouki 113'), I. Bennacer (H. Abdelli 50'), F. Chaibi (A. Boulbina 113'), R. Mahrez (A. Moussa 71'), I. Maza (B. Bounedjah 83'), M. Amoura.
DR Congo: L. Mpasi, A. Wan-Bissaka, A. Tuanzebe, S. Moutoussamy (C. Pickel 110'), C. Mbemba, J. Kayembe, T. Bongonda (M. Balikwisha 87'), N. Mukau (G. Kakuta 70'), M. Elia (N. Mbuku 62'), N. Sadiki (E. Kayembe 70'), C. Bakambu (F. Mayele 87').