Algeria clinched their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after a breathtaking move finished by Adil Boulbina in the 119th minute secured a dramatic victory over DR Congo.
The decisive goal, crafted entirely by five players introduced from the bench, turned a tense round-of-16 tie into a showcase of collective intelligence and squad depth.
Zinéddine Belaid, Anis Hadj Moussa, Himad Abdelli, Ramiz Zerrouki and Boulbina combined in a single flowing sequence that will be remembered as one of the tournament’s standout moments.
With the match heading towards a penalty shoot-out, Algeria found the clarity and energy they had lacked for much of the evening.
The move began deep inside their own half when Belaid stepped in to win possession in defence.
Rather than settling for safety, he immediately sought to accelerate the tempo, launching a counter-attack that caught the Congolese back line off guard.
The ball was shifted quickly to the right, where Anis Hadj Moussa, positioned just behind the halfway line, took control.
His first touch was assured, and he wasted no time in moving play forward, picking out Himad Abdelli in space. It was Abdelli who gave the move its direction and urgency.
Driving through midfield, Abdelli read the unfolding picture perfectly.
He surged past the first line of pressure and deliberately drew two Congolese players towards him, forcing them to abandon their defensive shape.
That selfless run created the opening Algeria had been waiting for.
As the defenders converged on Abdelli, Ramiz Zerrouki arrived on cue.
Thanks to an intelligent and well-timed run, he found himself in the ideal position to receive the pass under minimal pressure.
The composure of his next decision was crucial. Instead of shooting or taking an extra touch, Zerrouki released the ball immediately into the path of Adil Boulbina.
Boulbina needed no second invitation.
His strike, driven high into the top corner in the 119th minute, left the goalkeeper helpless and sent the Algerian bench into raptures.
In one movement, the substitutes had transformed a deadlocked contest into a moment of pure brilliance.
From defender to finisher, the sequence captured everything that has come to define this Algerian side: fluid movement, technical precision and a deep understanding between players.
It was a passage of play more commonly associated with elaborate training-ground routines than the frantic final stages of a knockout match.
The fact that all five contributors began the game on the bench only heightened the significance of the moment.
When fatigue threatened to drain the life from the contest, Algeria’s replacements provided the spark, proving that their influence extended far beyond simply maintaining the level of the starting XI.
This “Fantastic Five” will be remembered not only for delivering qualification, but for the manner in which they did it.
In a tournament where fine margins often decide who stays and who goes home, Algeria’s depth and unity offered a decisive advantage at the most critical time.
