RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Adil Boulbina scored a dramatic winner in extra time for Algeria to beat Congo 1-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations last-16 match on Tuesday.
Boulbina left fly from the edge of the penalty area to the top far corner of the goal in the 119th minute, sending the majority of fans at the scented Moulay El Hassan Stadium into wild celebrations.
Algerian journalists who celebrated in the press box were warned their accreditation would be withdrawn after their unrestrained outbursts of joy. One journalist inadvertently broke a television screen after jumping on a table.
Algeria goes on to face Nigeria in Marrakech on Saturday after the Super Eagles progressed with a 4-0 rout of Mozambique on Monday.
Defending champion Ivory Coast faced Burkina Faso in the last second-round match in Marrakech later. Egypt awaits the winner in Agadir on Sunday.
After its initial disappointment, Congo can prepare for a World Cup playoff. The Leopards will face either New Caledonia or Jamaica in Mexico in March for one of the last spots at the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Hundreds of supporters flocked to the Congolese embassy in Rabat before the game after hearing free tickets would be given to Congolese and Moroccan fans upon presentation of their passports to verify identity.
Algeria has been well-supported in neighboring Morocco, but relations between the two countries are strained and Moroccan fans were more likely to cheer for Algeria’s rivals. Still, despite the bid to boost Congolese support, Algerian fans were in the majority.
Local media also reported that FBI agents were attending the match to observe security arrangements which were noticeably tighter than for previous games. An Associated Press reporter had his bag searched for the first time at the tournament — twice — and was frisked twice before entering the stadium, while there was also a noticeably larger police presence than at previous games, including the matches involving Algeria.
The FBI was reportedly present to learn what it can about fan-management before next summer's World Cup.
Roared on by the green-and-white support, Algeria dominated the ball and had Congolese defenders scrambling under constant pressure.
But the big chances went Congo’s way. Cédric Bakambu had the first saved by Luca Zidane before Axel Tuanzebe headed just wide from the resultant penalty.
Bakambu headed just wide after that, and Ramy Bensebaini was forced to make a last-ditch clearance.
Congo started strongly after the break but couldn’t make it count. Riyad Mahrez fired over for Algeria, which missed further chances through Anis Hadj Moussa and Mohamed Amoura as the Fennec Foxes finished strongly.
The Leopards needed goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi on spot in extra time to deny Farès Chaïbi, then Baghdad Bounedjah. Mpasi remonstrated with his defenders but they were clearly tired and there was nothing they could do when Boulbina left fly with the winner.
Congo supporter Michel Nkuka Mboladinga, standing on a pedestal, raised his right hand at kickoff and stayed in that position posed as a statue of slain Congolese independence hero Patrice Lumumba until halftime, when he slowly lowered his arm and raised both hands over his head to applaud his fellow supporters, who’d been anything but statuesque behind him. He was back, hand raised again, for the second half, and then extra time.
Nkuka Mboladinga, who has been a fixture at Congo games during the tournament, met Patrice Motsepe, the president of the Confederation of African Football, before the game.
___
AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations
