It was a stormy night in Rabat as Algeria, the Desert Warriors, clashed with the Democratic Republic of Congo in the Round of 16 of the Africa Cup of Nations. Both sides had remained unbeaten after the Group Stage, and an interesting contest was on the cards.
Algeria dominated the play and made several raids on the Congo goal, only to be denied every time. Led by their charismatic captain Riyad Mahrez, the warriors were clearly the more enterprising side, but Congolese goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi ( who plays for French Club Le Havre) was brilliant in goal. He saved several good strikes from the Algerians and eventually pushed the match into extra time.
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DR Congo were great in defence and put up a stoic resistance in the extra time as well. The match was slipping into a tie-breaker, but then a 22-year-old Adil Boulbina, who had come out as a substitute, produced a moment of magic.
Boulbina received a brilliant pass from the centre in the 119th minute of the game, a move which split the Congo defence and created space for Boulbina. The young Algerian moved to the right and shot one with great power and incredible precision, from the edge of the box.
The ball just took off, swirled enough to beat Mpasi and enter the goal. It was sheer class from Boulbina under pressure. The goal will certainly go down as one of the highlights of the AFCON. No wonder the strike was a ripper that ripped Congo hearts.
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Algeria had scored with just 1 minute left on the clock, and then the Desert Warriors defended to deny Congo a way back into the game.
Algeria will now face the rampaging Super Eagles and the best team on display this AFCON, Nigeria, on Sunday.
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