Algeria and the Democratic Republic of the Congo accommodated at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations for the aboriginal time in 26 years back they affray in the Round of 16 at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat on 6 January 2026. Kick-off is appointed for 17h00 bounded time (16h00 GMT).
This will be the third affair amid the abandon at AFCON. Their aboriginal appointment came at the 1998 finals, back Algeria claimed a 1-0 Accumulation Date victory, Abdelkader Ferhaoui scoring the alone ambition in the 36th minute.
They additionally met at the 2000 edition, aperture Accumulation B with a 0-0 draw in Kumasi.
On both antecedent occasions they accept met at AFCON, Algeria progressed from the accumulation stages at the amount of DR Congo. Algeria accept additionally kept a apple-pie area in both AFCON affairs amid the sides.
In 2000, Algeria avant-garde as accumulation runners-up abaft South Africa, while DR Congo were alone afterwards finishing third in the accumulation advanced of Gabon. In 1988, Algeria accomplished as Accumulation A runners-up abaft hosts Morocco.
Overall, the teams accept met seven times. Algeria accept recorded three wins, while DR Congo are winless, with four matches catastrophe in draws. The aftermost four affairs accept all accomplished level, with the best contempo three — all friendlies — catastrophe 1-1. The aftermost Algeria achievement in this accoutrement came at the 1988 AFCON.
Their best contempo affair was a affable all-embracing played in Blida in October 2019. Algeria took the advance in the 6th minute through Islam Slimani afore Cédric Bakambu equalised for DR Congo in the 26th minute.
PAST MEETINGS
OVERALL Algeria: P7 W3 D4 L0 GF10 GA4 GD 6 DR Congo: P7 W0 D4 L3 GF4 GA10 GD-6
AFCON ONLY Algeria: P2 W1 D1 L0 GF1 GA0 GD 1 DR Congo: P2 W0 D1 L1 GF0 GA1 GD-1
PAST AFCON MEETINGS 1998 – Accumulation Date – 19 March 1998 Algeria 1 (Ferhaoui 36’) DR Congo 0
2000 – Accumulation B – 24 January 2000 DR Congo 0 Algeria 0
Algeria – Key Statistics
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Came through the accumulation stages undefeated, acceptable all three matches.
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Scored seven goals in the accumulation stage, acceptance aloof one.
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Their seven group-stage goals are their accomplished account at this actualization back scoring 10 in 1990.
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Won all three accumulation amateur for the aboriginal time back 2019 and for the third time overall, additionally accomplishing so in 1990.
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Conceded aloof one ambition in the accumulation stage, their atomic back acceptance none in 2019.
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Their starting XI adjoin Equatorial Guinea had an boilerplate age of 25 years and 21 days, their youngest at AFCON back at atomic 2010.
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It was additionally the third-youngest starting XI of the accepted edition, afterwards Cameroon vs Côte d’Ivoire (24y 258d) and Cameroon vs Gabon (24y 347d).
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Led Equatorial Guinea 3-0 at half-time, the third break Algeria accept denticulate three first-half goals at AFCON, afterwards matches adjoin Malawi in 1984 and Tanzania in 2019.
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In all three AFCON matches area Algeria accept led 3-0 at half-time, that scoreline has remained banausic at abounding time.
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Are best in their aftermost 15 AFCON matches back scoring aboriginal (W10 D5), back a 3-1 defeat to Morocco in the 2004 Quarterfinals.
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Are the alone aggregation to account aboriginal in 10 or added AFCON matches back 2010 afterwards accident any of them.
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Victory would accord Algeria four afterwards wins at the aforementioned AFCON copy for the third time, afterwards bristles wins in 1990 and their run in 2019.
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This is their additional Round of 16 appearance, afterwards 2019; they bootless to ability this date in 2021 and 2023.
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Won their alone antecedent Round of 16 bout 3-0 adjoin Guinea in 2019, with goals from Mohamed Belaïli (24’), Riyad Mahrez (57’) and Adam Ounas (82’).
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Victory would booty Algeria to the Quarterfinals for the seventh time (1996, 2000, 2004, 2010, 2015, 2019).
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Have been complex in bristles AFCON amends shoot-outs, acceptable three and accident two.
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Defeated Egypt on penalties in the 1980 Semi-finals afterwards a 2-2 draw.
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Beat Morocco on penalties in the 1988 third-place play-off afterwards a 1-1 draw.
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Most contempo action win came in the 2019 Quarterfinals adjoin Côte d’Ivoire (1-1 draw, won 4-3 on penalties).
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Lost amends shoot-outs to Cameroon in the 1984 Semi-finals and Nigeria in the 1988 Semi-finals.
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Only one of their aftermost 13 AFCON knockout matches has been absitively on penalties.
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Have played three AFCON matches absitively in added time in accessible play.
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Lost a Semi-final to Ghana in 1982 (3-2) afterwards acceptance in the 102nd minute.
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Lost 3-1 to Morocco in added time in the 2004 Quarterfinals.
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Defeated Côte d’Ivoire 3-2 afterwards added time in the 2010 Quarterfinals, with Hameur Bouazza scoring the champ in the 92nd minute.
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Ibrahim Maza is the aboriginal Algerian age-old beneath 21 to affection in all three accumulation matches of an AFCON copy back Nabil Bentaleb in 2015.
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Maza is additionally the youngest Algerian to accommodate an abetment at AFCON beyond the aftermost eight editions.
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Created four affairs adjoin Equatorial Guinea, akin with Anis Hadj Moussa, who additionally fabricated two assists.
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Has created eight affairs in total, the best by any amateur afterwards the accumulation stage.
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Scored and assisted in the win over Equatorial Guinea.
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Fares Chaïbi attempted six shots adjoin Equatorial Guinea, scoring already — the joint-most by an Algerian in a distinct AFCON bout back 2010.
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Two of Chaïbi’s six shots were on target.
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Algeria registered all six of their shots on ambition in the aboriginal bisected adjoin Equatorial Guinea.
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Himad Abdelli completed 68 passes in that bout with a 94.4% success rate.
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Mehdi Dorval completed all 23 of his passes afterwards advancing on as a substitute.
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Riyad Mahrez has denticulate three goals at the 2025 AFCON.
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Another ambition would see him become the additional Algerian to account four goals in a distinct AFCON edition, afterwards Djamel Menad in 1990.
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Mahrez has denticulate nine AFCON goals in absolute and is Algeria’s best top scorer at the tournament.
DR Congo – Key Statistics
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Opened with a win over Benin, drew with Senegal and defeated Botswana 3-0 in their final accumulation match.
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Have completed the accumulation date best for the additional afterwards AFCON, afterwards additionally accomplishing so in 2023.
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Since 2013, accept gone best in the accumulation date in bristles of six participations, joint-most alongside Morocco and Mali.
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Have able from the accumulation actualization for a fifth afterwards AFCON (2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025).
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This is their longest run of alternating progressions from the accumulation stage.
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Have denticulate 99 goals at AFCON; their abutting ambition will be their 100th, authoritative them the eighth aggregation to ability that mark.
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Are actualization in the Round of 16 for the third time.
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Progressed accomplished this date in 2023 and were alone in 2019.
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Both antecedent Round of 16 matches accept been absitively on penalties.
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Drew 2-2 with Madagascar in 2019 afore accident 4-2 on penalties afterwards added time.
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In 2023, drew 1-1 with Egypt afore acceptable 8-7 on penalties afterwards added time.
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Victory would booty DR Congo to their 10th Quarterfinal appearance.
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Have accomplished the Quarterfinals in 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2015, 2017 and 2023.
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Have been complex in bristles AFCON amends shoot-outs, acceptable three and accident two.
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Lost on penalties to Madagascar in 2019, defeated Egypt on penalties in 2023 and absent to South Africa on penalties in the 2023 third-place play-off.
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Won third-place play-off shoot-outs in 1998 and 2015.
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Victory over Botswana was their fourth AFCON win by a allowance of three goals or more.
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Gaël Kakuta denticulate alert and assisted already adjoin Botswana, the aboriginal DR Congo amateur to account and abetment in the aforementioned AFCON bout back 2017.
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Kakuta denticulate with both of his shots on ambition in that match.
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At 34 years and 192 days, Kakuta became the fourth-oldest amateur to account a brace at AFCON back 2010.
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Ngal’ayel Mukau completed 69 passes and fabricated nine line-breaking passes in the final third adjoin Botswana, the best in the match.