Hosts Morocco booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) with a dominant display against Cameroon in Rabat.
A goal in each half, scored by Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari, was enough to see off their opponents, who rarely threatened.
Diaz tucked home from close range in the 26th minute after Ayoub El Kaabi’s flick on from a corner, using his thigh to nudge the ball into the net for his fifth goal of the tournament.
Saibari’s goal also came from a set piece, firing home a low left-footed drive after picking up a loose ball from a free-kick.
Played in a febrile atmosphere reminiscent of those produced by North African fans at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, Walid Regragui’s side never looked in any real danger during an ill-tempered encounter.
Having now matched their historic run to the semi-finals in Qatar, Regragui’s side are two wins away from claiming the country’s first continental crown since 1976.
Morocco are now unbeaten in 25 matches – a run stretching back to their last-16 exit at the 2023 edition of the finals – and are into the last four at an Afcon for the first time since 2004, when they went on to lose against Tunisia in the final.
The Atlas Lions will have a huge home advantage again when they return to this stadium on Wednesday (20:00 GMT) to play the winners of Saturday’s quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria (16:00 GMT).
Diaz scoring streak continues
Heading into this game, Morocco had never beaten Cameroon at an Afcon in three previous attempts.
The last meeting between the teams at the finals had been played nearly 34 years ago to the day – and since that time the Indomitable Lions have added three titles, giving them five in total, in comparison to their opponent’s solitary triumph from 50 years ago.
But after more than a decade of serious investment in facilities, infrastructure and coaching, the balance of power now lies firmly with Morocco, and Regragui’s side truly showed their dominance here for the first time in the tournament.
Fans inside this upgraded 69,500-capacity stadium, which will be used for co-hosting the 2030 World Cup, urged on their team with thunderclaps while whistles greeted every spell of Cameroonian possession.
It was an electric occasion which their opponents’ young and inexperienced side struggled to cope with, particularly in the first half when Morocco’s press constantly put them under pressure.
It led to a succession of corners and free-kicks inside the first half hour and the Indomitable Lions finally buckled when Diaz, who scored three goals in the group stage and Morocco’s winner in the last-16 win over Tanzania,managed to stay onside by the finest of margins to show composure in using the upper part of his leg to control the ball into the net from El Kaabi’s downward header.
Both El Kaabi and Abde Ezzalzouli fired efforts into the side netting, while Cameroon were not helped by losing right wing-back Junior Tchamadeu to injury.
As tempers flared, captain Nouhou Tolo was booked for a cynical hack from behind on Diaz in the centre circle and there was a melee on the touchline involving both benches after Morocco tried to stop play with Ezzalzouli down and Cameroon attempting to continue.
While the second half was a more even affair, the hosts always felt in control.
Ezzalzouli, a constant thorn in Cameroon’s side, planted a header onto the roof of the net after a darting run to the near post, while Saibari saw an effort cleared off the line, although it would almost certainly have been ruled out for handball after the forward inadvertently used his arm to push the ball towards goal after being clattered by goalkeeper Devis Epassy.
While the Central Africans beat South Africa in the last 16 with only 33% possession, they could not muster a shot on target here, with substitute Georges-Kevin Nkoudou having their best opportunity, throwing himself full length at a corner but only managing the slightest of touches on his header.
Before that, Saibari had put the game to bed in the 74th minute by calmly collecting Nayef Aguerd’s flick-on beyond the far post, steadying himself and firing back across goal.
The other good news for the home side is that captain Achraf Hakimi completed 90 minutes for the second time since his return from injury against Zambia on 29 December.
While there had been doubts about Morocco’s performance levels among some fans and pundits ahead of this game, the nation is likely to feel renewed belief that their lengthy Afcon drought can be ended on home soil after the Atlas Lions easily tamed the Indomitable Lions here.
Whoever steps into their den next will have to be on their game.
