With the last-16 contest at the Moulay Hassan Stadium locked in a tense stalemate deep into extra time, Vladimir Petkovic turned to his bench - and was rewarded almost instantly. Just minutes after his introduction, Boulbina cut inside from the right and unleashed a curling effort that clipped the crossbar before beating Lionel Mpasi-Nzau, finally breaking Congolese resistance in the dying moments.

The breakthrough came at the end of a physically demanding and closely fought encounter in which clear chances were at a premium. Algeria dominated possession for long spells but found it difficult to penetrate a disciplined DR Congo back line, while the Leopards looked sharper on the counter-attack and arguably carried the greater threat for much of regulation time.

Cedric Bakambu was at the heart of DR Congo's best moments in the first half, forcing Luca Zidane into a smart save before Axel Tuanzebe headed narrowly wide from the resulting corner. Bakambu later glanced another header just past the post from an Aaron Wan-Bissaka cross as the Leopards pressed for an opener.

Algeria's response before the break was limited, with Ibrahim Maza's ambitious run and effort drifting well wide - a sign of the Fennecs' struggles to test Mpasi-Nzau despite seeing more of the ball.

The pattern continued after half-time. Fares Chaibi headed over early in the second period, while the first shot on target did not arrive until the 74th minute, when Edo Kayembe drew a sharp save from Zidane at the other end. Mpasi-Nzau then came to the fore, denying Anis Hadj Moussam, Mohamed Amoura and Maza in quick succession as the game opened up late on.

As fatigue set in during extra time, DR Congo nearly paid the price for a rare lapse when Chancel Mbemba lost possession in a dangerous area, but Mpasi-Nzau once again rescued his side by saving Chaibi's effort. With penalties looming, the Congolese goalkeeper appeared to be forcing the contest to a shootout - until Boulbina's moment of brilliance settled it.

The dramatic victory sends Algeria into the AFCON quarter-finals for the first time since their 2019 triumph, where they will face Nigeria in Marrakesh on Saturday, January 10. For DR Congo, who finished fourth at the 2023 edition, it marked an earlier-than-expected exit despite a resilient performance.

Marc van Heerden extends Cape Town City stay