Heartbreak for Cameroon as hosts Morocco seal deserved AFCON semi-final spot

Brahim Diaz opened the scoring at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on 26 minutes, and Ismael Saibari sealed the result with his strike on 76 minutes, to set up a last four clash with one of Algeria or Nigeria.

There were early calls for a penalty as Bilal El Khannous attacked down the right flank for Morocco, but play was quickly waved on with the ball striking the shoulder of Samuel Kotto.

Cameroon responded with a number of swift attacks but no final penetration as Achraf Hakimi whipped in a sixth minute free-kick and two subsequent corners that were well dealt with by the Indomitable Lions' defence.

Nouhou Tolo needed some acrobatics to clear a dangerous cross from Ismael Saibari from the left with Ayoub El Kaabi lurking, while a clever Hakimi set-piece directed at Brahim Diaz was just overhit as Morocco continued to look dangerous in attack.

Successive Hakimi set-pieces pegged Cameroon back in their own half, before a delay in play as Junior Tchamadeu received treatment for an earlier tackle - that ultimately forced him off, with Eric Ebimbe his replacement after 24 minutes.

And it only got worse for Cameroon as they found themselves a goal down just two minutes later as Diaz netted his fifth goal of the tournament, with a neat flick to direct Ayoub El Kaabi's header into the back of the net.

Abdessamad Ezzalzouli curled a 38th minute shot just past the left-hand upright after some more good approach play from Walid Regragui's charges as Cameroon ended the half struggling to string two passes together.

Morocco were clearly on top and came close to a second goal, but El Kaabi was just unable to steer a pass from Neil El Aynaoui on target inside the six-yard area.

The start of the second half saw a period of frenetic activity as Cameroon attempted to stamp their authority on this tie.

Morocco appeared to be sitting deeper and challenging Cameroon to break them down, but also doubling up in defence to thwart any potential danger.

Georges Kevin Nkoudou was introduced just before the hour mark for substitute Ebimbe as the trailing side look to add impetus to an ineffective attack.

But it was Morocco who remained the most threatening in attack, and Ezzalzouli powered a 61st minute header from a Hakimi corner just over Devis Epassy in the Cameroon goal.

Kotto was then forced to hack the ball off the line as Ismael Saibari looked to connect to a deflected cross from Hakimi from the right flank.

El Kaabi and El Khannous were withdrawn for Morocco for Sofyan Amrabat and Youssef En-Nesyri as the host nation looked to sure up their side amid a growing spell of pressure from the Indomitable Lions.

There were calls for a penalty as Bryan Mbuemo went down in the box under a challenge from Adam Masina, but the decision went against the chasing team.

Nkoudou was off target with a diving headewr with 72 minutes played as Cameroon continued to press, but they were ultimately undone just four minutes later as Saibari fired home across goal from the back post as an Ezzalzouli free-kick was flicked on by Nayef Aguerd.

Cameroon fans were incensed when substitute Karl Etta Eyong went down in the box under a strong challenge from Masina, only to be penalised for conceding a foul.

There was a real fight from Cameroon as the minutes ticked away, but a determined Morocco side were not to be outdone as they deservedly sealed their place in the semi-finals, to be played on Wednesday 14 January 2026.

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