- Sport
- Football
Cameroon 0-2 Morocco: Diaz scored his fifth goal in as many Afcon games as the host nation booked their place in the last four
Will Castle Friday 09 January 2026 22:00 GMT- Bookmark
- CommentsGo to comments
Bookmark popover
Removed from bookmarks
Close popover
(REUTERS)
Get the Adam Clery Football Column. A newsletter that unpacks the absurdities and oddities of the beautiful game
The ACFC newsletter: unpacking football’s absurdities
Unpack football’s oddities with the ACFC newsletter
Email*SIGN UPI would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice
Host nation Morocco booked their place in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final for the first time since 2004 as they saw off fellow tournament heavyweight Morocco in a frantic last-eight encounter.
Tournament top scorer Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock for the Atlas Lions, scoring his fifth Afcon goal in as many goals, before Ismael Saibari gave Morocco breathing space with 16 minutes to play.
Awaiting Morocco in the last four will be either free-scoring Nigeria or neighbours Algeria, two potential clashes which will be sure to bring the fireworks.
Their triumph came after Senegal overcome Mali in a 1-0 win, with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye capitalising on a goalkeeping error to make the difference and set up a tantalising semi-final tie against either Egypt or Ivory Coast.
Follow all the latest updates from the Afcon 2025 quarter-finals:
Recommended
Afcon 2025: How to watch every match for free on TV and online
Afcon 2025: Fixtures, results and quarter-final schedule in full from Africa Cup of Nations
Egypt survive Benin scare to reach Cup of Nations quarter-finals
Afcon 2025 live
- Afcon 2025 enters its quarter-final stage
- Host nation Morocco see off Cameroon to seal first Afcon semi-final place since 2004
- Senegal beat Mali in the day's first last-eight tie to set up last-four clash with Ivory Coast or Egypt
- 74' GOAL! Saibari drills home to give Morocco breathing space [CMR 0-1 MAR]
- 26' GOAL! Top scorer Diaz continues stellar Afcon form to put hosts in front [CMR 0-1 MAR]
Morocco seal first Afcon semi-final since 2004 with convincing win over Cameroon
Brahim Diaz scored for the fifth game in a row at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as hosts Morocco defeated Cameroon 2-0 in their quarter-final clash to keep alive their hopes of a first continental title in 50 years.
Ismael Saibari was also on target in another workmanlike display in which Morocco were efficient enough, but also created little in the way of chances, netting from two of their three shots on target.
Cameroon had a strong shout for a penalty in the second half after what looked like a foul on Bryan Mbeumo but they too battled in the final third and did not force home goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into a save in the 90 minutes.
Morocco, who have yet to concede a goal in open play at the finals, face the winner of Saturday's third quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria in the next round, a tie that will be played in Rabat on Wednesday.
Morocco seal first Afcon semi-final since 2004 with convincing win over Cameroon
Cameroon 0-2 Morocco: The host nation have reached the Afcon semi-finals for the first time since 2004Read moreWill Castle9 January 2026 21:33Tomorrow's action
We’re halfway through Afcon’s quarter-final stage. But don’t fret, the unmissable action isn’t stopping any time soon.
Here’s what you have to look forward to tomorrow!
Algeria v Nigeria | 4:00 PM | Stade de Marrakech, Marrakech, Morocco
Egypt v Ivory Coast | 7:00 PM | Le Grand Stade Agadir, Agadir, Morocco
Will Castle9 January 2026 22:00Who can stop the Morocco machine?
To play any team in such a hostile atmosphere is a hard task - but this Morocco side are relentless.
They’ve got the strength, they’ve got the speed and they’ve crucially got the depth. Just looking at the two teams’ benches tonight, there was an obvious gulf in quality.
Morocco have not won Afcon since 1976. They’ll still need to beat two of the continent's big hitters to end that drought, but this could well be their year.
Will Castle9 January 2026 21:45Your first two Afcon 2025 semi-finalists
Will Castle9 January 2026 21:30Morocco breeze past Cameroon into Afcon semi-finals
(AFP via Getty Images)
(AP)
(REUTERS)Will Castle9 January 2026 21:15FULL-TIME! Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Host nation Morocco booked their place in an Africa Cup of Nations semi-final for the first time since 2004 as they saw off fellow tournament heavyweight Morocco in a frantic last-eight encounter.
Tournament top scorer Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock for the Atlas Lions, scoring his fifth Afcon goal in as many goals, before Ismael Saibari gave Morocco breathing space with 16 minutes to play.
Awaiting Morocco in the last four will be either free-scoring Nigeria or neighbours Algeria, two potential clashes which will be sure to bring the fireworks.
(AP)Will Castle9 January 2026 21:09FULL-TIME! Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Morocco are into the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004!
This team will take some stopping.
(REUTERS)Will Castle9 January 2026 20:59Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
90+4 mins: Another Mbeumo delivery headed clear, but he’ll get a third go around with a second corner in as many minutes...
His corner flies straight into Bono’s gloves. This is all over.
Will Castle9 January 2026 20:58Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
90+3 mins: Out-swinging corner from Mbeumo tries to inspire something late for Cameroon, to no luck.
They’ve won another free-kick on the opposite side, though.
Will Castle9 January 2026 20:56Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
90+1 mins: Five minutes added on.
Cameroon need a miracle, and they’ll need to do it to the noise of deafening whistles in Rabat.
Will Castle9 January 2026 20:55Newer1 / 9OlderMore about
CameroonBrahim DiazSenegalMoroccoAfrica Cup Of NationsReal MadridManchester UnitedIvory CoastSadio ManeKalidou KoulibalyAlgeriaNigeriaEvertonJoin our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments