JUST when everyone was mentally preparing for the cruel lottery of a shootout, along came super-sub Adil Boulbina to deliver the most perfectly timed party trick since someone invented fashionably late arrivals.
The Algerian forward, who’d barely had time to work up a sweat after replacing a teammate in the 113th minute, decided that 118 minutes was precisely the right moment to unleash an absolute peach of a strike that sent DR Congo packing and Algeria dancing into the quarter-finals.
Algeria 1-0 DR Congo (AET) – or as it should be known, “How to Give an Entire Nation a Collective Heart Attack Before Tea Time.”
For 117 minutes and 59 seconds, this match had all the goal-scoring prowess of a chess match played underwater. Both sides huffed, puffed, and generally looked like they’d forgotten which end of the pitch the goals were at. Goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi-Nzau was having an absolute worldie for the Congolese, pulling off saves that defied both physics and common decency.
Then Boulbina, clearly unimpressed by the “let’s just take it to penalties” vibe, cut inside from the right like a man who’d just remembered he left the oven on and curled an absolutely gorgeous effort past the previously unbeatable Mpasi-Nzau. Cue pandemonium. Cue wild celebrations. Cue one very dejected Congolese goalkeeper wondering what more he could have possibly done.
The match itself had been a proper tactical tug-of-war, with Algeria enjoying more of the ball but DR Congo looking menacing on the break. Cedric Bakambu came agonizingly close on multiple occasions, while Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura squandered a gilt-edged chance late in normal time that he’ll be seeing in his nightmares for weeks.
But none of that mattered once Boulbina worked his late, late magic. Algeria now march on to face Nigeria in Marrakesh, and if this performance is anything to go by, bring your blood pressure medication.
Man of the Match: Adil Boulbina, obviously. Five minutes, one goal, eternal glory. Not bad for a night’s work.
While Algeria were busy giving their fans premature grey hairs, defending champions Côte d’Ivoire decided to show everyone how it’s actually done with a thoroughly professional, utterly dominant 3-0 dismantling of Burkina Faso.
Côte d’Ivoire 3-0 Burkina Faso – or “How to Defend Your Crown Without Breaking a Sweat.”
Manchester United’s Amad Diallo continues his campaign to be the tournament’s most unplayable winger, opening the scoring with a cheeky chip in the 20th minute after Burkina Faso’s defenders played hot potato in their own penalty area. Because why just clear the ball when you can gift-wrap it for the opposition?
Twelve minutes later, Diallo turned provider, delivering a cross so inviting that Yan Diomandé would have needed to actively try to miss it. He didn’t. 2-0, and the writing was firmly on the wall for the Stallions.
Burkina Faso briefly threatened after the break, with Dango Ouattara hitting the post in what would be their closest brush with glory all evening. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t enough.
Ousmane Diomandé completed the rout with three minutes remaining, finishing off a slick counter-attack that had “we’ve been here before” written all over it. The defending champions are now purring like a well-oiled machine, and they’ve got a date with Egypt in the quarter-finals on Saturday.
The Verdict: Côte d’Ivoire look ominously good. Les Éléphants aren’t just defending their title – they’re swatting away challenges like flies at a summer picnic.
Man of the Match: Amad Diallo. One goal, one assist, and a masterclass in how to torment defenders. Someone check if he’s actually got eyes in the back of his head.
Up Next: Algeria vs Nigeria promises to be an absolute barnburner, while Egypt vs Côte d’Ivoire has “potential final before the final” written all over it.
Clear your schedules. Stock up on snacks. This tournament is heating up nicely.
