AFCON 2025: Morocco Light Up Rabat, Outclass Cameroon to Reach Semi-Finals
Under the floodlights of a roaring Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, Morocco delivered a night to remember, brushing aside Cameroon 2-0 to storm into the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025.
In front of a sold-out home crowd, the Atlas Lions played with freedom, confidence and purpose鈥攅verything that had been demanded after their narrow escape in the previous round. This was Morocco at full voice, both on the pitch and in the stands.
From the first whistle, the intent was clear. Morocco pressed aggressively, moved the ball with speed, and suffocated Cameroon inside their own half. The Indomitable Lions, known for their physical dominance, found themselves chasing shadows as wave after wave of Moroccan attacks rolled forward.
The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute and it felt inevitable. A Hakimi corner caused chaos in the Cameroonian box, Ayoub El Kaabi flicked it on, and Brahim D铆az reacted quickest鈥攏udging the ball home with instinctive brilliance. The stadium erupted. It was D铆az鈥檚 fifth goal of the tournament and another reminder of his growing influence on this Moroccan side.
Morocco should have doubled their advantage before the interval. Abde Ezzalzouli burst forward on the counter and slipped El Kaabi through on goal, but the striker dragged his effort into the side netting, allowing Cameroon a brief lifeline.
That lifeline, however, never truly became hope. Cameroon emerged with greater urgency after the break, pushing higher up the pitch, but Morocco鈥檚 backline remained calm and compact. A diving header from Georges-Kevin N鈥橩oudou off a corner went narrowly wide鈥擟ameroon鈥檚 clearest moment on a night where chances were scarce.
As the game entered its final quarter, Morocco struck again to seal it. Ezzalzouli鈥檚 teasing free-kick found Nayef Aguerd, whose clever touch rolled the ball perfectly into the path of Ismail Saibari. Unmarked at the far post, Saibari swept his finish into the bottom corner, sending Rabat into celebration mode.
At 2-0, the contest was effectively over. Morocco managed the closing stages with maturity, soaking up pressure and draining belief from their opponents. Cameroon, out of ideas and out of time, could not find a way back.
The final whistle confirmed more than just progression鈥攊t marked Morocco鈥檚 first AFCON victory over Cameroon, a psychological barrier finally broken on the biggest continental stage.
With momentum building and home support growing louder by the match, Morocco now march into the semi-finals dreaming of a second Africa Cup of Nations crown, where they will face the winner of the clash between Algeria and Nigeria.
Source: CAF AFCON
