Morocco beats Cameroon 2-0 to reach AFCON semi-finals
Hosts Morocco defeated Cameroon 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Friday night at Prince Moulay Abdallah Stadium in Rabat. Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz scored his fifth goal in five tournament matches, tapping in a header from Ayoub El Kaabi in the 26th minute before Ismael Saibari sealed the victory with a 74th-minute strike.
The match drew over 64,000 fans as Morocco maintained their unbeaten run since their 2024 AFCON defeat by South Africa. The Indomitable Lions, five-time champions, struggled to create chances with Manchester United's Bryan Mbeumo ineffective. Cameroon's Jackson Tchamadeu was stretchered off early, and Morocco capitalized moments later when Achraf Hakimi's corner deflected off Diaz into the net.
Morocco now awaits the winner of Saturday's Algeria-Nigeria clash for Wednesday's semi-final. This marks their first semi-final appearance since losing the 2004 final to Tunisia. Walid Regragui's team faces enormous pressure to win their first continental title in 50 years, especially after reaching the 2022 World Cup semi-finals. The hosts dominated possession and created multiple chances, with Samuel Kotto clearing one effort off the line and Cameroon penalty appeals rejected.
Is this AFCON run about Morocco finally delivering on their ranking and World Cup pedigree, or will the weight of home expectation prove too much in the semi-finals?