Tournament hosts Morocco produced a commanding display on Friday night, brushing aside five-time champions Cameroon 2-0 at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat to book their place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations.
The Atlas Lions’ impressive victory came just hours after Senegal edged Mali 1-0 in Tangier, setting the stage for a thrilling last-four lineup at the continental showpiece.
Under the glare of floodlights and backed by a passionate home crowd, Morocco delivered one of their most assured performances of the tournament, combining tactical discipline with attacking sharpness to overwhelm a resilient Cameroonian side.
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After drawing criticism for a laboured Round of 16 win over Tanzania, Walid Regragui’s men responded emphatically. From the first whistle, Morocco asserted control, pressing aggressively, recycling possession efficiently and forcing Cameroon into a largely defensive posture.
Their dominance paid dividends midway through the first half. Captain Achraf Hakimi’s inswinging corner caused chaos in the box, Ayoub El Kaabi flicked it on, and Brahim Díaz reacted quickest to guide the ball home with his thigh. The goal sent the Rabat crowd into raptures and further cemented Díaz’s status as the tournament’s standout performer.
The Real Madrid attacker etched his name into AFCON history, becoming only the second player ever to score in five consecutive matches at a single tournament, matching a feat last achieved by Ghana’s Osei Kofi.
Morocco could have doubled their lead before the break when Abde Ezzalzouli sprung El Kaabi free on a counter-attack, but the striker narrowly missed the target from close range.
The Indomitable Lions showed greater urgency after the restart, pushing higher up the pitch and committing more bodies forward. Their best opportunity came from a corner, with Georges-Kevin N’Koudou’s diving header drifting just wide. However, Morocco’s defence remained compact and composed, limiting clear-cut chances.
The decisive moment arrived in the 74th minute. Ezzalzouli’s well-delivered free-kick found Nayef Aguerd, whose intelligent touch teed up Ismail Saibari at the far post. The midfielder made no mistake, calmly slotting into the bottom corner to seal the contest.
With the atmosphere reaching fever pitch, Morocco expertly managed the closing stages, denying Cameroon any route back into the game and confidently seeing out a historic victory.
The win not only secured a semi-final berth but also marked Morocco’s first AFCON victory over Cameroon, breaking a long-standing tournament curse against the Indomitable Lions.
Morocco will now face the winner of the quarter-final clash between Algeria and Nigeria as they continue their quest for a second continental title.