Morocco Beat Cameroon 2–0 to Reach AFCON Semi-Finals as Diaz Shines Again

RABAT: Morocco took another confident stride toward continental glory as the hosts booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals with a composed 2–0 victory over Cameroon, feeding off home support and delivering a performance that mixed patience with authority.

Backed by more than 64,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Walid Regragui’s side showed little sign of being weighed down by expectation. Instead, they controlled territory, pressed intelligently, and steadily wore down a Cameroonian team hoping to frustrate and counter.

Diaz Sets the Tone as Morocco Takes Control

The breakthrough came midway through the first half, following a spell in which Morocco had pinned Cameroon deep inside their own half. Achraf Hakimi’s corner from the right sparked chaos in the box, and when Ayoub El Kaabi glanced the ball goalwards, Brahim Diaz reacted instinctively to apply the finishing touch.

It was Diaz’s fifth goal of the tournament, underlining his importance to Morocco’s run. The Real Madrid winger continued to roam intelligently between the lines, dragging defenders out of position and giving Morocco a cutting edge in the final third.

Cameroon, five-time African champions, struggled to respond. Bryan Mbeumo found himself isolated up front, while Morocco’s midfield pressed aggressively to cut off supply. The hosts nearly doubled their advantage before the break, with El Kaabi and Abde Ezzalzouli both testing Cameroon’s back line.

The visitors were further disrupted by the early loss of right wing-back Jackson Tchamadeu, who was forced off after injuring his knee in a collision. The change unsettled Cameroon’s defensive structure and tilted momentum further in Morocco’s favour.

Saibari Seals It as Morocco Marches On

Cameroon attempted to reset after half-time, switching to a more attacking shape in search of inspiration. There were brief moments of resistance, including appeals for a penalty that were waved away, but Morocco’s defensive discipline rarely wavered.

The decisive blow arrived in the 74th minute. From a dead-ball situation, Ismael Saibari showed quick feet and calm judgment inside the area, controlling the delivery before firing past the goalkeeper to make it 2–0. The goal drained what little belief Cameroon had left and turned the final stages into a celebration for the home crowd.

“It is historic. Moroccans have not seen their team in the semi-finals of an AFCON for 22 years,” said Regragui afterward. “They deserve it, but we need to keep our feet on the ground and make this even more historic.”

He was equally effusive about Diaz. “Today he was the X-factor of my team. He has been amazing during the competition. Tonight, the way he ran and fought send out a message to the rest of the team.”

Cameroon coach David Pagou, appointed only weeks before the tournament, took pride in his side’s journey. “We are satisfied with how the boys played. We only started working with the team on December 16… but they gave joy to the people of Cameroon,” he said.

For Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked nation and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, the win keeps alive the dream of a first AFCON title in 50 years. A semi-final against either Algeria or Nigeria now awaits, a challenge that will test not just quality, but nerve, as the hosts edge closer to history.