Boulbina’s late heroics lift Algeria as Côte d’Ivoire cruise into AFCON Quarter-finals

Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire both booked their places in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 on a dramatic night of knockout football, producing contrasting victories that underlined their growing momentum in the tournament.

While Algeria required extra-time heroics to edge past a stubborn DR Congo side, Côte d’Ivoire delivered a dominant display to sweep aside Burkina Faso and reinforce their status as defending champions.

In Rabat, Algeria were pushed to the limit by a disciplined and physically imposing DR Congo team before substitute Adil Boulbina struck late in extra time to seal a hard-fought 1–0 victory.

With penalties looming in a tense and goalless encounter, Boulbina provided the decisive moment in the 118th minute, curling a superb finish beyond goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau just five minutes after entering the fray.

The match was a tight tactical battle from the outset. Algeria enjoyed the bulk of possession in the opening stages and established territorial dominance, but they struggled to break down a well-organised Congolese defence that remained compact and difficult to penetrate.

Despite sustained pressure, clear-cut chances were at a premium, and Mpasi-Nzau was rarely tested in the early exchanges.

DR Congo, meanwhile, looked increasingly dangerous on the counter-attack.

Cedric Bakambu forced a smart save from Luca Zidane midway through the first half before Axel Tuanzebe headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner. 

Bakambu went close again moments later, glancing a header just past the post from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka delivery.

Algeria responded before the break when Ibrahim Maza surged forward on the counter, but his low strike drifted inches wide of the target.

The second half followed a similar pattern, with Algeria probing patiently and DR Congo threatening sporadically in transition.

Mohamed Amoura squandered a golden opportunity late on, failing to find the net when well placed, while at the other end Zineddine Belaid produced a vital intervention to deny Fiston Mayele from close range.

As fatigue set in during extra time, the contest opened up.

Mpasi-Nzau produced two outstanding saves to keep out efforts from Fares Chaibi and Baghdad Bounedjah, seemingly pushing the match towards a penalty shootout.

However, Boulbina had other ideas. Cutting inside from the right, he unleashed a curling strike that finally broke Congolese resistance and sparked jubilant celebrations among Algerian players and supporters.

The win sends Algeria into a quarter-final showdown against Nigeria in Marrakesh as their bid for a second AFCON title in six years gathers pace.

Earlier in Marrakesh, Côte d’Ivoire delivered a far more commanding performance, easing into the quarter-finals with a convincing 3–0 victory over Burkina Faso.

Once again, Manchester United winger Amad Diallo was at the heart of the Ivorian display, opening the scoring and providing an assist as Les Éléphants continued to show that their triumph on home soil was no fluke.

Côte d’Ivoire began at a relentless tempo, immediately pinning Burkina Faso back and stretching their defence with pace and movement.

Diallo and Yan Diomandé were constant threats, exploiting space in advanced areas and forcing the Burkinabè backline onto the defensive.

The breakthrough came in the 20th minute following sustained pressure.

A brief scramble between two Burkina Faso defenders inside the penalty area allowed Diallo to pounce inside the six-yard box, delicately chipping the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. 

Twelve minutes later, Diallo turned provider, delivering a precise low cross across goal for Diomandé, who took a composed touch before drilling a low finish to double the lead.

Burkina Faso came close to pulling one back just before half-time when Dango Ouattara surged down the right flank, but his low effort struck the post and rebounded safely into the goalkeeper’s arms.

The Stallions showed greater urgency after the interval and enjoyed a spell of pressure, yet they found the Ivorian defence resolute and well organised.

Any hopes of a comeback were extinguished late on. Breaking quickly on the counter-attack, Ousmane Diomandé latched onto a precise pass from Odilon Kossounou before finishing confidently at the near post to complete the scoring.

Côte d’Ivoire then calmly saw out the remaining minutes to secure a comfortable victory and set up a mouthwatering quarter-final clash against record champions Egypt in Agadir.

Together, the two results underline the depth, drama and quality on display at AFCON 2025, as the tournament moves into its decisive stages with heavyweight clashes now firmly on the horizon.

Photos

• Algeria vs DR Congo

• Côte d'Ivoire vs Burkina Faso