Breaking now from Morocco. Algeria and DR Congo are locked at 0-0 in a tense Africa Cup of Nations last 16 tie. The quarterfinal door is cracked open. Neither side has forced it. The air is tight. Every touch feels heavy. Every surge draws a roar. This is knockout football at full volume.
A chess match with teeth
This is not cautious for the sake of it. It is smart, tight, and edgy. Algeria are working the ball through Ismael Bennacer, who keeps the tempo calm. Riyad Mahrez keeps stepping inside to find pockets. He wants the ball on his left foot. He wants one clean look.
DR Congo are waiting, then they strike. Yoane Wissa starts deep, then runs hard into space. The plan is simple. Win the ball, break lines, and ask questions of a back line that can be drawn wide. At the heart of it all, captain Chancel Mbemba is calm. He wins duels. He organizes. He cuts passing lanes with small steps and good angles.
Both teams have risk in their shape. Algeria commit fullbacks to climb high. DR Congo leave space behind their wingers when they jump. One mistake could flip this match in a heartbeat.
The key zone is Algeria’s right channel, where Mahrez drifts inside and looks to combine. DR Congo must block the cutback, not just the shot.
Where this tie will swing
The game is level, yet the edges are clear. The first edge is set pieces. Both teams carry height, timing, and a hard run to the near post. The second edge is transition. If either midfield loses the ball while spread, the counter is on.
- First contact on corners and free kicks, win it or suffer
- Turnovers in central midfield, one pass can spring Wissa
- Overlaps on Algeria’s right, Mahrez draws two, the runner slips through
- Shots from the top of the box, second balls matter
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If penalties come, the pressure is brutal. But we are not there yet. The next 45 minutes, and maybe extra time, will offer windows. The team that finds a clean pass in a crowded lane will be the one that survives.
Stars in the spotlight
Mahrez is measuring the game at his own pace. His first touch slows the room. The second invites a foul or a gap. When he drifts, Bennacer reads it and slides the ball quickly. The rhythm is deliberate. They want control, then a sudden punch.
Wissa gives the opposite feel. He plays with speed and instinct. He bursts off a shoulder, then cuts inside with power. Give him a half step, and he turns it into a yard. Mbemba is the anchor, and he has been steady. His timing on the front foot keeps DR Congo from getting pinned too deep.
This is why the score is tight. Top attackers want time. Elite defenders aim to deny it. So far, Algeria’s quality in small spaces has met DR Congo’s discipline in a straight fight.
The weight of history, the pull of now
Algeria carry the glow of two titles, in 1990 and 2019. This tournament still lives in their identity. The fans expect a deep run. They expect cool heads and a late winner. They sing when Mahrez squares up his man. They hold their breath at every corner.
DR Congo own their own legend, with crowns from 1968 and 1974. The Leopards travel with pride and a defiant edge. They enjoy a scrap. They thrive in nights like this, when resolve matters as much as flair. Neutral fans feel that pull. The energy in Morocco adds to the theater. It feels like a final, even if it is the last 16.
One loose touch in the middle third can flip the whole night. The first big mistake may decide the quarterfinals.
What changes could break it
We are watching for fresh legs out wide. Algeria may push a winger higher to stretch the back line. That would give Bennacer cleaner passing lanes. They could also ask a fullback to underlap, not overlap, to surprise the block.
DR Congo may step their line five yards higher when they win it. That would compress play and speed up their counters. More runners ahead of the ball would help Wissa attack space, not bodies. The first coach to force a mismatch on the flank could take control.
Tension and detail will rule the finish. Set pieces, second balls, and one fearless dribble could decide it. The crowd feels it. The players know it. The next moment of real quality, or the next moment of panic, will punch a ticket to the quarterfinals.
Conclusion
We are level for now, and the stakes could not be higher. Algeria’s craft meets DR Congo’s grit, and the margin is razor thin. Watch the right channel, watch the counters, and watch the set pieces. This tight last 16 clash is built for a late twist. I am tracking every turn. Updates to follow the second it breaks. ⚽
