Algeria to meet Nigeria at AFCON quarterfinals after dramatic late winner, Ivory Coast easy win sets up Egypt quarterfinal

Two thrilling quarterfinals await

It was super sub Adil Boulbina who made sure the tie wouldn’t be decided on penalties, as his thunderous strike in the 119th minute in extra time settled the tense encounter in dramatic fashion.

The 22-year-old striker of Qatari club Al-Duhail SC unleashed an unstoppable strike with the right foot, after making his way through the DR Congo defence from the left.

His stunning shot gave the goalkeeper no chance.

The majority of the nearly 19,000 fans in attendance at Moulay El Hassan Stadium in Morocco’s capital, Rabat, were backing Algeria.

And the stunning goal and its timing made the stadium erupt.

Algeria won all their group games and are looking like serious contenders for a third AFCON title. They won the last one in 2019 in Egypt, and the first one as hosts in 1990.

The quarterfinal in Marrakesh against Nigeria on Saturday is now all set, and football fans should be in for a thrilling showdown.

Ivory Coast’s easy win against Burkina Faso sets up quarterfinal against Egypt

Africa Cup of Nations title holders Ivory Coast beat Burkina Faso 3-0 in the last 16 fixture and will now face the record seven-time champions Egypt in the quarterfinals.

Ivory Coast became the first AFCON defending champions to reach the quarterfinals of the competition since 2010, as Premier League star Amad Diallo continued his fine goal-scoring for the winning side.

It was the 23-year-old Manchester United winger who struck the opening goal, as he also created the second right before half-time for Yan Diomande.

In the closing minutes of the match in Marrakesh, substitute Bazoumana Toure scored his team’s third to make sure the tie was well and truly over.

Ivory Coast and Egypt will now meet in the Moroccan coastal city of Agadir on Saturday, for a place in the semifinal.