Morocco Advances to AFCON Semi-Finals with Victory Over Cameroon

Morocco triumphed over Cameroon with a score of 2-0, earning a spot in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) currently taking place in North Africa.

The host nation entered the match brimming with motivation and confidence, buoyed by the enthusiastic support of thousands of fans who filled the stadium to rally behind their team.

The Atlas Lions, who last claimed continental glory 50 years ago, demonstrated their hunger and determination to secure victory against the five-time champions, which included notable players like Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo.

Cameroon was forced to replace the injured Junior Tchamadeu with Dina Ebimbe shortly after 24 minutes, a change that disrupted their tactical strategy.

Just two minutes later, Morocco seized the lead. Following a corner kick, the Cameroonian defenders failed to clear the ball, which landed at the feet of Brahim Diaz. The forward capitalized on the opportunity, netting his fifth goal of the tournament and giving Morocco a well-deserved advantage.

The first half could have concluded with a 2-0 scoreline in favor of Morocco had Ayoub El Kaabi converted a promising chance that went begging.

After the interval, the Indomitable Lions struggled to compete with their opponents, particularly in the midfield.

A defensive lapse allowed Ezzalzouli a chance to extend Morocco’s lead in the 60th minute; however, despite solid contact with the ball, he failed to convert, leaving the goalkeeper beaten but the net intact.

Fifteen minutes later, the Moroccan supporters erupted with joy as Ismael Saibari capitalized on a loose ball in the Cameroon penalty area, executing a precise shot that found the bottom right corner, making the score 2-0.

Despite tactical modifications from Coach David Pagou, the 2021 champions were unable to recover, resulting in their elimination from the tournament, following Mali’s earlier exit after a defeat to Senegal.

Morocco commenced the competition with a robust 2-0 victory over Comoros in Group A, followed by a hard-fought 1-1 draw against Mali. They secured a commanding 3-0 win against Zambia, topping their group with seven points.

In the Round of 16, the North African side controversially defeated Tanzania to reach the quarter-finals, where they now eliminated Cameroon.

Cameroon had previously secured a 1-0 victory over Gabon in Group F and drew 1-1 with defending champions Ivory Coast, eventually finishing second in their group after a challenging final match against Mozambique.

In the Round of 16, they managed a 2-1 win against South Africa, only to succumb to Morocco in the quarter-finals.

Morocco will next face the winner of the match between Algeria and Nigeria on Saturday. Algeria is eager to assert themselves after being eliminated in the group stage during the past two editions, despite winning the tournament in 2019.

In the current edition, Algeria began with a decisive 3-0 victory over Sudan, followed by a narrow 1-0 win against Burkina Faso and a 3-1 triumph over Equatorial Guinea, finishing the group stage with maximum points. In the Round of 16, they scored a late goal to secure a 1-0 victory over the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Nigeria has also had a successful run in this tournament, starting with a 2-1 win over Tanzania, followed by a 3-2 victory against Tunisia and concluding the group stage with a win against Uganda at 3-1.

In the Round of 16, the Super Eagles impressed with a 4-0 win against Mozambique, sending a strong message to their competitors, including Algeria.

Historically, this match will mark the 23rd encounter between the two nations across all competitions, with Algeria leading the head-to-head record with 10 wins to Nigeria’s nine, along with three draws. In AFCON history, the teams have met nine times, with Algeria winning four matches compared to Nigeria’s three, with two games ending in draws.