On January 6, 2026, at Mil Al Hassan Stadium, Algeria found a way. After 118 minutes of grit and near-misses in the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 Round of 16, substitute Adil Boulbina stepped into the spotlight with a breathtaking strike at 119 minutes to defeat DR Congo 1-0 after extra time and push the Fennecs into the quarterfinals.

The ball hit the net with power and precision. The stadium noise swelled. The broadcast summed it up in a single shout: “OH, THAT IS… SENSATIONAL FROM ALDINA TO SURELY SETTLE THIS GAME FROM ALGERIA.” Moments later, another line captured the helplessness of any keeper against such a hit: “Power and precision. There’s nothing could do about it.”

Adil Boulbina’s 119’ screamer changes everything

Boulbina only made his Algeria debut a month ago. Here, he delivered the kind of moment that can shape a career. With legs heavy and minds tired late in the second half of extra time, the 21-year-old (recently capped) found his touch and the angle, unleashing a shot that flew past the outstretched keeper. It was the definition of clutch.

Algeria had pushed and probed across 120 minutes, but the final pass kept slipping away. Boulbina solved it with one swing. It was the strike that took a cautious, cagey contest and gave it a clean, unforgettable ending.

“Boulbina just made himself undroppable. Start him next game.”

A tight AFCON knockout chess match

Knockout football at AFCON rarely gives much away. This was no different. The first half was tense and tidy. DR Congo signaled intent with an early corner at 25 minutes. In quick succession, Cédric Bakambu tried his luck at 25’ and Axel Tuanzebe followed at 26’. Algeria’s back line, led by the experienced Aïssa Mandi and Ramy Bensebaini, stood steady.

Every set piece felt important. Corners, free kicks, and half-chances showed up in both directions as the game wore on. But regular time finished 0-0, forcing extra time. It became a battle of focus, fitness, and nerve.

Leaders and lineups: Zidane’s calm, Mahrez’s craft, Bennacer’s control

Algeria’s starting group mixed star power with youthful energy:

• Luca Zidane (GK)
• Rayan Aït-Nouri
• Ramy Bensebaini
• Aïssa Mandi
• Rafik Belghali
• Ismaël Bennacer
• Farès Chaïbi
• Hicham Boudaoui
• Riyad Mahrez
• Mohamed Amoura
• Ibrahim Maza

Mahrez’s maturity on the ball helped Algeria keep their shape. Bennacer’s touch in midfield was a calming note in a busy, stop-start game. Luca Zidane’s presence in goal gave assurance behind a back four that dealt well with crosses and second balls. Off the bench came the difference-makers: Boulbina, who struck the winner, and Baghdad Bounedjah, the veteran No. 9 who brought edge and physical presence in the closing stages.

“Zidane steady, Mahrez clever, but the kids showed the punch.”

DR Congo’s threat and the narrow margins

DR Congo did not come to sit back. They looked to strike from set plays and quick surges. That 25’ corner and the back-to-back efforts by Bakambu and Tuanzebe showed they could turn a moment into a goal. In knockout games, those moments define the story. On another night, one falls kindly, and the headlines swing the other way.

Here, Algeria’s shape held, and their keeper and defenders stayed switched on. With time ticking and spaces opening, DR Congo had to balance risk and safety. The balance held until the 119th minute shot that no plan could prevent.

Extra-time tension: a booking and the final whistle

Extra time stretched nerves thin. Challenges got tighter. One late flashpoint came when Baghdad Bounedjah, battling hard up top, went into the book at 120’+2’. It captured the tone of a finish that was fierce but controlled.

Seconds later, the match closed at 120’+3’. Algeria’s bench emptied onto the pitch to greet Boulbina. DR Congo’s players sank to the turf, knowing they were one shot away from a different ending.

“DR Congo had the plan. Algeria had the moment.”

Why this win matters for Algeria

AFCON knockout games are built on control and patience. Algeria showed both. They managed the tempo with Bennacer, leaned on Mahrez’s intelligence, trusted their back line, and found a decisive strike from a young substitute who has only just joined the senior setup.

Boulbina’s rise is a promising sign. A month after his debut, he now owns one of the goals of the tournament so far. For the coaches, it validates the choice to refresh the squad with new faces like Boulbina and Ibrahim Maza. For the fans, it offers a new hero to back as the stakes rise.

What’s next

Algeria move on to the quarterfinals of AFCON 2025, where every minute will feel as tight as these last 120. The immediate TV coverage turned to Nigeria vs. Congo after full-time, but the story of the night belonged to the Fennecs and a late thunderbolt in Mil Al Hassan.

In a tournament that often rewards discipline and detail, Algeria found both—and then, when it truly counted, they found magic.