Match report
I’ll leave you with Jonathan Wilson’s report. Enjoy your weekends.
The last few minutes of this should be decent. Wrexham lead 3-2 …
Tonight, then, was a significant milestone for the hosts. There’s a party atmosphere in the ground, but Walid Regragri is quick to gather his players and deliver a post-game briefing. I imagine the gist is: we go again.
Since losing the 2004 final to Tunisia, Morocco’s Afcon record reads:
2006: Group stage
2008: Group stage
2010: Did not qualify
2012: Group stage
2013: Group stage
2015: Disqualified
2017: QF –lost 1-0 to Egypt
2019: R16 – lost to Benin (penalties)
2021: QF – lost 2-1 to Egypt (aet)
2023: R16 – lost 2-0 to South Africa
Morocco are through to the semi-finals of Afcon for the first time since 2004 – which, given their improvement in recent years, is quite remarkable. But would they rather face arch-rivals Algeria or free-scoring Nigeria in the semi-finals? You can follow that game with us here tomorrow:
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Full time: Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Goals in either half from Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari have secured an entirely deserved victory for the hosts, who saw off a tough but limited Cameroon side. Next up: Algeria or Nigeria in the semi-finals!
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94 mins: Another late corner for Cameroon, but Mbeumo’s delivery wafts into Bounou’s arms. And that is probably that.
93 mins: Cameroon corner, whipped in by Mbeumo but headed away by Targhalline.
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90 mins: Five added minutes. Cameroon need two goals; Morocco have conceded one all tournament.
89 mins: Brahim Diaz is going off, holding his right thigh. A concern for Walid Regagui, who brings on Hamza Igamane for his first minutes at this tournament. Morocco have some serious depth.
88 mins: Mbeumo, trying to make something happen, dribbles across the edge of the area and tries a shot that is immediately blocked.
87 mins: Cameroon have a free kick, a few yards inside the Morocco half. Mbeumo’s ball in is decent, but fails to trouble the hosts’ defence.
85 mins: Saibari, who is a booking away from missing the semi-final, is replaced by Oussama Targhalline. Ezzalzouli, one of many excellent performers for the hosts, is subbed for Soufiane Rahimi.
84 mins: After a brief row about the placement of the ref’s magic spray, Ezzalzouli smacks his free kick into the Cameroon wall.
83 mins: Ezzalzouli is brought down by Che Malone on the corner of the penalty area, and Morocco have another decent chance from a free kick.
82 mins: Onana gets his head to a cross but can’t find Magri, or the target, with his downward header.
81 mins: The red sea of supporters behind Bounou’s goal are now bouncing and singing – this game feels over.
79 mins: Cameroon are still being relentlessly whistled by the home crowd when they’re on the ball. Etta Eyong is penalised after a clash of heads with Masina, which looks a harsh-decision.
76 mins: Kofane – who struggled to make any impact – is replaced by Frank Magri, while Baleba is replaced by Jean Onana. The final change sees Karl Etta Eyong come on for Namaso.
75 mins: That was a perfectly timed intervention from Saibari, with Morocco at risk of being drawn into a dogfight. Cameroon are making three changes …
GOAL! Cameroon 0-2 Morocco (Saibari 73')
Morocco are surely heading for the semi-finals now! Ezzalzouli’s free kick arcs through the area and finds an unmarked Saibari, who traps it cleanly and drills a left-footed shot into the far corner.
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72 mins: Cameroon’s xG was around 0.05 five minutes ago – safe to say that was their best chance of the game. At the other end, Brahim wins a cheap free kick from Nagida, who barges him in the back.
71 mins: Mbeumo, well marshalled so far by his clubmate Mazraoui, wins a corner, which he will take … and it’s not too far away from finding N’Koudou, whose falling header goes wide!
70 mins: Morocco don’t look like they’re planning to change their defensive approach here. With the lead a single goal, it’s going to be a tense 20 minutes.
69 mins: N’Koudou cuts in from the left to reach the byline, and win a corner … which sails straight into Bounou’s gloves.
67 mins: Mbeumo slaloms into the area and goes down under Masina’s challenge. No penalty – and while there was contact, Mbeumo moved his foot out to initiate it. Had the referee given it, though, it would have been a hard one to overturn.
66 mins: Sofyan Amrabat and Youssef En-Nesyri come on, replacing El Kaabi and El Khannouss. That’s close to 160 caps’ worth of experience coming on for the hosts.
64 mins: Cameroon free kick, El Khannouss dragging back Namaso – but nothing comes of it. Morocco are going to make their first changes.
62 mins: Off the line! El Khannouss plays a lovely disguised through ball to Hakimi, who sweeps a cross towards Saibari. He doesn’t connect cleanly but the ball is looping into the corner … only for Kotto to acrobatically clear away! Had the ball gone in, VAR may have ruled that Saibari handled it anyway.
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61 mins: Ezzalzouli, perhaps the standout player so far, dances past his marker to kick-start a Morocco attack …
60 mins: Morocco have a corner – this would be a fine time to get a two-goal cushion. And they go close, Ezzalzouli flicking Hakimi’s near-post delivery just over the bar.
58 mins: Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, once of Tottenham and Burnley, is coming on … and he replaces the earlier substitute, Dina Ebimbe! Oof, that’s a bit harsh.
57 mins: Morocco’s first foray forward in this half, and Brahim scoops the ball forward to El Kaabi. He goes down in a tangle with Kotto, but the referee rightly waves away his appeals.
“Have you noticed that, unlike the rock star, the footballing Bono isn’t drawing criticism for his work in Africa?” Peter Oh there, with a deep cut.
55 mins: Nagida is unable to keep a long diagonal ball in play down by the corner flag. Cameroon are about to make their first unenforced change.
54 mins: It’s a little surprising, given their previous performances, how unadventurous Cameroon have been. Set-pieces and shithousery seem to be their main avenues of attack – you could understand it more if they weren’t already behind.
Wrexham lead Forest 2-0. A ‘Cupset’ of sorts is brewing …
51 mins: Avom involved again, trying but failing to hook the ball back into play. I may be tempting fate, but the Morocco back four has looked very solid so far.
49 mins: An interesting start to the second half, with Morocco sitting deeper and challenging Cameroon to break them down. A yellow card for El Khannouss after his boot catches Avom on the knee.
48 mins: Avom wants a free kick after colliding with Hakimi, but the referee ain’t interested.
47 mins: Baleba looks to carry the ball through midfield, and is clipped by Ezzalzouli.
46 mins: Morocco are able to hoof clear with Avom threatening a shot from the edge of the area.
Second half
Here we go, then. Can Cameroon get back into it? Namaso wins an early free kick, which Nagida will swing in …
In the FA Cup, Forest have had a goal disallowed – it remains Wrexham 0-0 Nottingham Forest.
“The photo of Brahim Diaz at the top reminds me that the cutesy shrug is among my least favourite goal celebrations,” says Peter Oh. “It’s right down there with the thumb sucker and the non-celebration against a former club.”
In fairness to Brahim, there was some confusion over whose goal it was at the time. But broadly, the shrug should be reversed for full backs smashing in 30-yard screamers.
“I know that there’s a lot at stake, especially for the hosts, but there’s so much unpleasantness going on that I’ve just given up watching,” says Charles Antaki. “Thanks for the MBM, which at least puts a cordon sanitaire between us and the kicks and whacks on the field.”
MBMs – we watch the game so you don’t have to.
Half-time reading on the FA Cup’s potential giant killers this weekend …
Half time: Cameroon 0-1 Morocco
It’s been a spiky, scrappy first half in places but all the best moments have come from the hosts, who lead through Brahim Diaz. Cameroon have ruffled their opponents but have yet to really worry them, and will need to change their approach to turn this game around.
49 mins: More needle here as Mazraoui accuses Nouhou of elbowing him as they tussled for the ball. And that’s half time!
48 mins: A free kick just inside the Moroccan half for Cameroon, who haven’t created anything in this half. Mbeumo does well to hold up the ball and find Namaso, whose cross is stabbed away at the near post.
47 mins: Into five minutes of stoppage time, and El Kaabi sweeps a shot wide from Ezzalzouli’s neat through pass.
45 mins: After a long wait, Bryan Mbeumo’s free kick lands at the feet of the first man. Maybe Big Sir Jim was right about trying him as a wing-back.
43 mins: Kofane goes down after taking an elbow to the neck from Aguerd, who should really have been booked. Cameroon will have a free kick once Kofane is patched up by the physio.
42 mins: Morocco look to build up steam again before the break, but Saibari’s long sideways pass is intercepted, and the ball eventually ricochets back to Cameroon keeper Devis Epassy.
40 mins: Another odd moment on the Morocco bench as the coach, Walid Regragui, is seen arguing with one of his substitutes – possibly backup keeper Munir. Everybody take a breath.
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39 mins: Nouhou is booked for a rash challenge, and the Cameroon captain will miss the semi-final if they make it through.
37 mins: Ooh! Ezzalzouli cuts inside and curls towards the near post – but can only find the side netting. Half the crowd, perhaps blinded by their phone lights, think it’s gone in at first.
36 mins: Fans pass the time with a light show using their phone torches, before we get back under way …
35 mins: Words are exchanged between the benches, substitutes in their long puffer jackets pointing and jostling. The temperature dial is turned up another notch or two.
34 mins: Ezzalzouli goes down off the ball in the area, apparently clipped by Ebimbe. The referee eventually stops play; could we see a VAR intervention? The contact looked accidental, and there’s no further action taken.
32 mins: Another Morocco attack breaks down when El Kaabi’s backheel outfoxes his own teammates.
30 mins: Saibari tries to lead a break downfield, but gets crowded out. Meanwhile, replays show that Nouhou was just playing Brahim onside for the Morocco opener.
28 mins: A big release of pressure for the hosts, and Cameroon will have to come out and attack more now. They’ve won a free kick on the left flank, but it’s cleared after a bit of head tennis in the area.
27 mins: That’s the Real Madrid man’s fourth goal of the tournament – both he and El Kaabi celebrated it, but it was Brahim who got the final touch.
GOAL! Cameroon 0-1 Morocco (Brahim Diaz 26')
Morocco take a deserved lead, El Kaabi’s downward header across goal flicking off Brahim’s hip and into the far corner!
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25 mins: Another crafty cross in from Ezzalzouli, cleared away again by Nouhou. Morocco have another corner …
23 mins: Eric Junior Dina Ebimbe – currently on loan at Brest from Eintracht Frankfurt – replaces Tchamadeu on the right side of Cameroon’s midfield.
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22 mins: Oh no – Tchamadeu has gone down again after that free kick, and is now being stretchered off. He looks devastated, and that may also be bad news for his club, Stoke City, if it proves to be a long-term injury.
20 mins: Diaz with another silky run at goal, and he’s brought down by Nouhou Tolo. Ezzalzouli swings the free kick towards the far post, where Masina can’t keep the ball in.
18 mins: Good news for Cameroon: Tchamadeu, who looked pretty distraught after that injury, is able to continue, and launches a long throw into the box which Morocco deal with.
17 mins: Brahim is penalised for a high boot, which strikes a stopping Avom on the head. No action beyond a free kick, but there’s plenty of spice in this game already.
16 mins: The corner is cleared by Kotto but Cameroon can’t hold on to the ball, and another clumsy foul gives Hakimi the chance to whip in a free kick.
14 mins: The game continues with Tchamadeu off the pitch, and Ezzalzouli curls a cross just beyond El Kaabi. The hosts are racking up the half-chances here.
12 mins: Junior Tchamadeu stays down after a collision with Mazraoui, who accidentally landed on the Cameroon wing-back’s knee. It looks a sore one, and Tchamadeu hides his face with his shirt.
10 mins: Rather than shoot or cross, Hakimi goes for the Argentina ‘98 option, trying to slip a pass into Brahim’s path – but it’s badly overhit, rolling out for a goal kick. A waste, to be honest.
9 mins: Morocco come straight back at Cameroon, though, and the charging Hakimi is hacked down by Avom. Yellow card, and a chance for Hakimi to test the keeper from 25 yards …
8 mins: Saibari whips a cross in towards El Kaabi, which Tolo clears acrobatically away …
7 mins: The corner is cleared and Cameroon threaten to break in numbers – but Carlos Baleba is caught by Aguerd, showing a decent turn of pace for a centre-back to rescue the situation.
5 mins: After a scrappy spell of play, danger man Brahim Diaz gets on the ball and is tripped up by Danny Namaso Loader. Free kick to Morocco on the edge of the area, cleared behind by Kofane.
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“Whatever happens today, Cameroon have won Africa’s style war this time round.,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “Just look at that shirt design! It’s a work of art.”
2 mins: Ezzalzouli hares after a long ball down the left, but can’t keep it in play.
1 min: The hosts, playing in all white, kick off to a raucous reception. El Khannouss appeals hopefully for a penalty after his early cross hits Kotto on the shoulder.
First half
The anthems ring out around the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with the entire crowd belting out the Moroccan anthem. It’s go time!
It’s an eclectic live line-up tonight. John Brewin is covering Wrexham v Nottingham Forest as the FA Cup third round swings into action.
Facing Cameroon will bring back memories of a grim chapter in Morocco’s Afcon history. Back in 1988, the hosts lost 1-0 to the Indomitable Lions in the semi-final – but the game was marred by Andre Kana-Biyik’s headbutt on Hassan Mouahid, which went unpunished by the referee.
Mouahid was taken to hospital with a broken nose, and false rumours of his death reached the home dressing room. With Morocco players stricken and confused, Cyrille Makanaky struck a late winner and Cameroon went to the final, where they beat Nigeria 1-0.
“Moroccan fans suffer from real psychological trauma because of that match,” former Cameroon coach Claude Le Roy told Foot Africa. “Their biggest fear at Afcon 2025 was drawing Cameroon again.”
Some great images from inside the respective dressing rooms – Morocco are quiet, tense but focused, while Cameroon players are dancing and banging drums. An indication of where the pressure lies.
“Do you still see Morocco as favourites, compared to Nigeria or Ivory Coast?” asks Zach Neeley. “Or is that a holdover from pre-tournament prognostication?”
Yes, it’s more the burden of being hosts and favourites – they haven’t been the best team so far in the tournament, although they’re certainly good enough to go on and win it all.
Team news
Cameroon (3-4-2-1): Epassy; Malone, Kotto, Tolo (c); Tchamadeu, Avom, Baleba, Nagida; Mbeumo, Namaso; Kofane.
Subs from: Medjo, Wooh, Nyamsi, Nkoudou, Onana, Magri, Bassogog, Soko, Ngameni, Kemen, Etta Eyong, Boyomos, Ngapandouetnbu, Ebimbe, Kamdem.
Morocco (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi (c), Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Khannous, El Aynaoui, Saibari; Ezzalzouli, El Kaabi, Brahim Díaz.
Subs from: Amrabat, Hamza, Rahimi, Mohamedi, Ben Seghir, Targhaline, Chibi, Chakkour, El Yamiq, En-Nesyri, Talbi, Harrar, Salah-Eddine, Ait Boudlal, Belammari.
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Channel 4’s coverage has expanded for the quarter-finals, with studio analysis from Jay-Jay Okocha and Jon Obi Mikel. It’s still parked on E4 though, with A Place in the Sun currently showing on the main channel.
Full time: Mali 0-1 Senegal
Senegal hold on to defeat 10-man Mali after a lively second half where both teams spurned chances to score. Iliman Ndiaye got the only goal in the first half, pouncing on a goalkeeping error before Yves Bissouma was sent off after picking up two bookings. Next up for Senegal: either Egypt or Côte d’Ivoire in the semi-finals.
Preamble
It’s crunch time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with the continent’s biggest teams assembling in a historically heavyweight line-up. With Senegal closing on victory over Mali in the first quarter-final, the seven sides left will all be former champions, with 22 continental titles between them.
That leaves Morocco, the hosts and highest-ranked team, under severe pressure to deliver a first title since 1976. The Atlas Lions cannot shake off their status as favourites, but the path to glory could scarcely be more perilous. Get through today’s battle, and either in-form Nigeria or neighbours Algeria are up next.
Not that Morocco can afford to get ahead of themselves. Cameroon may be the lowest-ranked side left, having failed to reach the 2026 World Cup, but they are unbeaten and have a breakout star in striker Christian Kofane. If Morocco repeat their nervous display against Tanzania in the last 16, they are likely to be punished.
