Algeria’s Bundesliga attackers bit their teeth against the Democratic Republic of Congo for 119 minutes. Then a professional from Qatar has a flash of inspiration.
For a long time, Algeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo neutralized each other in the round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations on Tuesday. After an uneventful 119 minutes of play in Morocco’s capital Rabat, everything looked like a penalty shootout. But then the big moment came from Adil Boulbina, a 22-year-old newcomer who plays in Qatar’s first division for Al-Duhail SC.
After a nice pass from Ramiz Zerrouki, Boulbina dribbled into a shooting position on the left and hit the top right corner. In doing so, he secured Algeria a hard-fought 1-0 (0-0, 0-0) win after extra time and a quarter-final in Marrakech against Nigeria (Saturday, 5 p.m.).
Defensive lines are secure
Both teams had previously demonstrated why they had only conceded one goal in the three group games. Algeria dominated the game, which was no surprise considering they were favorites. With three preliminary round victories, the North Africans had confirmed that they were among the medal candidates.
However, Algeria found no gap in Congo’s deep defensive block and only got their first promising shot in the 42nd minute: Leverkusen professional Ibrahim Maza shot past the right from 18 meters. The 20-year-old Berlin native was one of four Bundesliga professionals in Algeria’s starting eleven. He stormed alongside Wolfsburg’s Mohamed Amoura, supported on the left by Frankfurt’s Farès Chaibi.
Ibrahim Maza controls the ball
Bensebaini as defense chief
Dortmund’s Ramy Bensebaini is the boss of Algeria’s defense – and he and his defensive colleagues kept a clean sheet. Congo had a double chance after 25 minutes with a counterattack and the subsequent corner, but otherwise achieved little offensively.
DR Congo also made it through the group stage without a defeat, winning against Benin and Botswana and drawing 1-1 against Senegal. The only Bundesliga professional in the squad, Samuel Essende from FC Augsburg, did not play against Algeria.
Poverty of opportunities even after the break
Not much changed after the break: no team took any risks, the game remained tactical, competitive and lacking in spectacle. It wasn’t until the 74th minute that the next goal came, but it didn’t pose any problems for Luca Zidane in Algeria’s goal. The 27-year-old is the son of France legend Zinedine Zidane and played his fourth international match for Algeria.
Algeria also briefly spoke out offensively. Amoura had space on the left and at least forced Congo’s Lionel Mpasi-Nzau into a save from a tight angle. But it wasn’t enough to score a goal in regular time.
Boulbina has the last word
In extra time, it was noticeable to the players on both sides that their strength was dwindling. The actions lost precision, the game became wilder, but not better.
In the 111th minute, Algeria had a double chance, but Mpasi-Nzau parried Chaibi and Bounedjah’s shots. But then he had no chance against Boulbina’s precise finish. The left winger improved his already strong international record: he scored his fourth goal in his sixth appearance.