AFCON 2025: Diaz scores again as hosts Morocco beat Cameroon to reach semi-finals

Brahim Diaz maintained his remarkable scoring record in the Africa Cup of Nations and Ismael Saibari was also on target as hosts Morocco defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-final on Friday to keep their title dreams alive.

Real Madrid winger Diaz got the decisive tap on Ayoub El Kaabi’s header in the 26th minute in front of more than 64,000 fans at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat.

Diaz’s fifth goal in five matches at the tournament was followed by Saibari’s second-half strike, with Morocco well worth its victory as they advance to a semi-final against the winner of Saturday’s match between Algeria and Nigeria.

That promises to be a tougher test for Walid Regragui’s team than Cameroon’s, who were hoping for a shock after already exceeding expectations to get this far after a difficult run-in to the tournament.

The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, created little as Manchester United striker Bryan Mbeumo struggled to make an impact.

Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked team and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists, are under immense pressure to win the Cup of Nations in front of their own fans, half a century after their last continental title.

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There have been doubts about whether the country can meet the high expectations, but the country remains on course to achieve its goal: it is the first time Morocco has reached the semi-finals of the AFCON since losing the 2004 final to Tunisia.

The hosts were unchanged from their 1-0 win over Tanzania in the last 16 as they looked to continue an unbeaten record dating back to their defeat by South Africa at the 2024 AFCON.

Just after eliminating South Africa in the last round here, Cameroon were clearly hoping to frustrate Morocco as much as possible in an attempt to turn the crowd against the home team.

Morocco were defeated in the semi-finals by the Cameroonians when they last hosted AFCON in 1988, but a repeat of the outcome never seemed particularly likely.

David Pagou’s side were not helped by the early loss of right full-back Jackson Tchamadeu, who tried to carry on after Noussair Mazraoui landed heavily on his knee before eventually being stretchered off.

Moments later, Morocco scored. Achraf Hakimi sent in a corner from the right, which was headed towards goal by El Kaabi at the near post, and the ball hit Diaz in the groin before going in.

That calmed the frantic home fans, who cheered on their team at half-time after seeing Abde Ezzalzouli and El Kaabi come close to further goals.

Morocco were on top and Cameroon’s response was to change their formation after the break, from a back three to a 4-2-3-1, in an attempt to create more danger.

Ezzalzouli headed just over from Hakimi’s corner, before a cross from the Paris Saint-Germain star wreaked havoc in the Cameroon penalty area as Samuel Kotto hooked the ball away from the line.

Mbeumo had a penalty appeal turned down by the Mauritanian referee before PSV Eindhoven’s Saibari scored the killer second goal on 74 minutes after controlling Ezzalzouli’s dead ball as Morocco advanced to Wednesday’s semi-final.

Published on January 10, 2026