Mohammed Belaili converted a penalty kick in the 17th minute of stoppage time as Algeria knocked out hosts Qatar 2-1 in a pulsating semi-final at Al Thumama Stadium on Wednesday.
In the eventful match, Benlamri Djamel scored on the hour mark to put Algeria in front, but Mohammed Muntari levelled the score in the seventh minute of injury time to set up a tense finish to the match.
The match seemed to be heading for extra time before Algeria was awarded a penalty kick, which was converted after the initial effort was saved by Qatar’s goal-keeper Saad Alsheeb.
Referee Szymon Marciniak had officially added nine minutes of injury time, but that was extended to make up for the time spent during a video assistant referee (VAR) check of a suspected foul in the lead-up to Qatar’s goal.
The Qatari goal eventually stood, but Algeria was able to win a penalty in the game’s final moments, minutes later.
Algeria won the decisive penalty when Yacine Brahimi was tripped by Abdulaziz Hatem.
In the final, Algeria will take on their continental rivals Tunisia who beat Egypt 1-0 with a dramatic injury-time goal.