Late Boulbina strike sends Algeria into AFCON quarters

VIDEO SHOWS: POST-MATCH COMMENTS FOLLOWING ALGERIA'S 1-0 WIN OVER DR CONGO IN THEIR AFCON LAST 16 TIE RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT SHOWS: RABAT, MOROCCO (JANUARY 6, 2026) (STATS PERFORM – Access all) 1. ALGERIA COACH VLADIMIR PETKOVIC ARRIVING FOR POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE & TAKING SEAT 2. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ALGERIA COACH, VLADIMIR PETKOVIC, SAYING: “What can I say? It was a real match, played well by both sides, with strong play throughout. In the end, we won. I think we deserved it. Congratulations to my players, who kept the opponent in check for almost two-thirds of the game. We were good in our build-up play and in defence, we played a good match both with and without the ball. I think my players, despite various difficulties, worked hard, formed a united and cohesive group, and with great positivity, they turned this qualification in our favour.” 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) ALGERIA COACH, VLADIMIR PETKOVIC, SAYING: “I'm glad that we had two real opponents against Burkina Faso and today. Tough ones, who gave us a lot of trouble. I'm sure that we can improve in the next match against Nigeria too, because for once we have an opponent that everyone says is the favourite, and we must be humble and respect them, while trying to play our football and win the game.” 5. PETKOVIC LEAVING  6. MAN OF THE MATCH ADIL BOULBINA ARRIVING FOR POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE & TAKING SEAT HAVING PLACED HIS TROPHY ON THE TABLE  7. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MAN OF THE MATCH & ALGERIA FORWARD, ADIL BOULBINA, SAYING: “I have always dreamed of being part of the national team on such a big stage. It’s something I hold very close to my heart, and it’s a huge honor to represent a team of this stature. I worked extremely hard for this moment. I think every young footballer dreams of one day representing his country, and thank God I was given that opportunity, but above everything else, what matters most is that we won the game.” 8. VARIOUS OF BOULBINA POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH HIS MAN OF THE MATCH TROPHY BEFORE LEAVING  9. DR CONGO COACH SEBASTIEN DESABRE ARRIVING FOR POST-MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE & TAKING SEAT 10. (SOUNDBITE) (French) DR CONGO COACH, SEBASTIEN DESABRE, SAYING: “We would have liked to go further. As I said, there are elements of the draw and the opponent, and it often comes down to very little, and today things didn’t go our way. That’s how it is. I still think we showed a good image. It was a very tactically intense and interesting match, and unfortunately, the ending was cruel to us, but the players gave their all. I really have nothing to blame the players for, so, we have to keep our heads held high.” 11. DESABRE LEAVING STORY: Algeria substitute Adil Boulbina slammed home a last-gasp winner a minute from the end of extra time as his side overcame the Democratic Republic of Congo 1-0 on Tuesday (January 6) to book a place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals. Just as the round-of-16 tie was headed to a penalty shootout, Boulbina cut in off the left wing before unleashing a dipping shot that flew in, clipping the underside of the crossbar on the way. It was as much as the more enterprising Algerians deserved, having created more opportunities throughout the toughly contested encounter. Algeria will now be up against Nigeria in their quarter-final in Marrakech on Saturday. (Production: Stefan Haskins)

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