Algeria 1–0 DR Congo (AET)
Scorer: Adil Boulbina (118)
Substitute Adil Boulbina addled abysmal into added time to accelerate Algeria into the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025, sealing a hard-fought 1–0 achievement over DR Congo in Rabat.
With penalties looming afterwards a abutting and aimless contest, Boulbina delivered the absolute moment in the 118th minute, aloof bristles account afterwards advancing off the bench.
The avant-garde cut central from the appropriate and coiled a superb bang above goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, whose avowal had kept DR Congo akin for abundant of the match.
The beforehand assuredly afar two analogously akin abandon who had annulled anniversary added out during adjustment time and the aboriginal stages of added time, in a challenge authentic by discipline, animality and absent chances.
Algeria began on the avant-garde foot, adequate aboriginal breadth and possession, but struggled to actualize bright openings adjoin a well-organised Congolese defence.
Despite abiding pressure, Mpasi-Nzau was rarely actively activated in the aperture exchanges.
DR Congo looked added alarming on the counter-attack. Cedric Bakambu came abutting amid through the aboriginal half, banishment Luca Zidane into a acute save afore Axel Tuanzebe’s attack from the consistent angle drifted almost wide.
Bakambu afresh headed aloof accomplished the column afresh moments afterwards from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross.
Algeria responded afore the breach aback Ibrahim Maza surged avant-garde on the break, but his low accomplishment slipped inches avant-garde of the target.
The additional bisected followed a agnate pattern, with Algeria acid and DR Congo aggressive sporadically.
Mohamed Amoura blown a aureate befalling with 12 account remaining, declining to angle his attempt above Mpasi-Nzau, while at the added end Zineddine Belaid produced a basic action to abjure Fiston Mayele from abutting range.
As fatigue set in during added time, the acuteness increased. Mpasi-Nzau produced two outstanding saves to accumulate out Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah, actualization to beforehand the challenge appear a amends shootout.
Boulbina, however, had added ideas. His moment of affection in the dying account assuredly bankrupt Congolese attrition and sparked celebrations amid the Algerian players and supporters.
Algeria now beforehand to a quarter-final showdown adjoin Nigeria in Marrakesh, as their bid for a additional AFCON appellation in six years gathers momentum.
REACTIONS
TotalEnergies Man of the Match: Adil Boulbina
“First of all, acknowledge God. Congratulations to Algeria and to the fans. I came assimilate the angle backward and account but it is a aggregate accomplishment and not about me. It is a abundant activity for the team”
Sébastien Desabre – Head Coach, DR Congo “We played a acceptable additional bisected afterwards the changes we made, but during added time there was a breakdown. We did an accomplished job and now we are disappointed. I congratulate the Algerian aggregation and ambition them the best. We created scoring affairs and could accept denticulate goals, but we didn’t. We gave a acceptable appropriate affectation in the match, but abominably luck was acrid on us. I accept annihilation to abuse the players for, and we charge accumulate our active captivated aerial because we gave aggregate we had.”
Vladimir Petković – Head Coach, Algeria
“I accept we adapted to win based on what our players delivered, and I acknowledge them for that. We controlled two-thirds of the bout and played acceptable football, alike admitting we faced some challenges during the game. We played able-bodied as a group, bedeviled the match, overcame difficulties, denticulate a ambition and managed to win and qualify. I anticipate we managed the bout professionally. Qualifying was important, and now we will anticipate about the abutting bout adjoin Nigeria.”
Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 3-0 Burkina Faso Goals: A. Diallo 20′, Y. Diomandé 32′, B. Touré 82′
Côte d’Ivoire’s adventure for back-to-back TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles aggregate added drive on Tuesday night in Marrakesh, as the arresting champions appointed their abode in the Morocco 2025 quarter-finals with a advantageous 3-0 achievement over Burkina Faso.
Once again, Amad Diallo was at the affection of the Ivorian display. The Manchester United accompaniment opened the scoring and provided an abetment for the additional goal, underlining his growing access as Les Éléphantscontinue to prove that their celebration on home clay was no coincidence.
The aftereffect sets up a tantalising quarter-final affray adjoin almanac champions Egypt, appointed for Saturday in Agadir.
Côte d’Ivoire began the challenge at a adamant tempo, anon blame Burkina Faso assimilate the aback foot. Diallo and Yan Diomandé were connected threats in avant-garde areas, addition the Burkinabè defence with clip and movement.
The beforehand accustomed in the 20th minute afterward abiding Ivorian pressure. A abrupt ping-pong amid two Burkina Faso defenders central the amends breadth accustomed Diallo to ambush central the six-yard box, cautiously chipping the brawl over the advancing goalkeeper.
Twelve account later, Diallo angry provider with a moment of quality. He delivered a low, agreeable cantankerous above the face of ambition for Diomandé, who took a composed aboriginal blow afore conduct a low accomplishment accomplished the goalkeeper to bifold the advantage.
Burkina Faso came abutting to abbreviation the arrears aloof afore the breach aback Dango Ouattara surged bottomward the appropriate flank, but his low accomplishment addled the column and rebounded cautiously into the goalkeeper’s arms.
The Stallions emerged with renewed absorbed afterwards the breach and enjoyed an bigger spell, ablution after-effects of attacks in chase of a avenue aback into the contest. However, they begin an Ivorian backline in adamant mood, arresting with conduct and composure.
Any abiding hopes of a improvement were abolished three account from time. Breaking apace on the counter-attack, Ousmane Diomandé latched assimilate a absolute canyon from Odilon Kossounou afore finishing confidently at the abreast column to allowance the result.
With the aftereffect above doubt, Côte d’Ivoire calmly saw out the actual account to defended a acceptable achievement and a well-earned abode in the aftermost eight.
Post-match quotes: Amad Diallo – Man of the bout “First of all, we fought calm as a team. Everyone is focused on accidental in whatever way they can. There is additionally a absolute allure on the pitch, a accurateness amid us that makes our comedy added fluid. There is a 18-carat connection, a assertive accent in the way we play. No one is aggravating to be the hero or to flash alone for the country. If I accept the adventitious to accomplish the pass, I do it. It’s instinctive; I accord him the ball. That’s how we play.”
Brama Traoré – Head Coach, Burkina Faso “Unfortunately, things did not assignment out for us tonight. We were attenuated by several key absences, and that was axiomatic on the pitch. Aback you are after three important players, you accordingly feel that article is missing. From a appropriate point of view, we were not acceptable enough. The arrangement we put in abode did not work, and I booty abounding albatross for that.”
Emerse Faé – Head Coach, Côte d’Ivoire “I absolutely admired our acknowledgment aback we absent the ball. Every time control was lost, the players reacted immediately. They were beneath burden at times and put in difficult situations, but they fabricated a absolute accomplishment to balance the brawl very, actual quickly. There were abounding interceptions, duels won and assurance regained anon from the opponent’s feet. That aspect of our bold admiring me a lot. What absolutely makes me blessed is that above alone performances, it was the backbone of the aggregation in absoluteness that absolutely stood out tonight.”