AFCON: Too easy for Morocco - past Cameroon and into the semi-finals, but…

It is true that, based on what was shown on the pitch, Morocco fully deserved to reach the AFCON semi-finals. However, questions remain over what might have happened had some of the refereeing decisions gone the other way. Even so, it is inexcusable that Cameroon failed to register a single shot on target over the full 90 minutes. Morocco, by contrast, found the net twice and now await their opponent in the semi-finals.

Morocco controlled the opening stages of the AFCON quarter-final against Cameroon, dictating the tempo and enjoying over 60 percent possession in the first 15 minutes. Despite their dominance, clear-cut chances were initially hard to come by, although it was notable that the tournament hosts had already won five corners by the 17th minute, underlining their territorial pressure.

The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute. Achraf Hakimi delivered a corner into the box, where El Kaabi got a header away. The ball then fell kindly to Brahim Diaz, who reacted quickest and bundled it into the net—appearing to finish with his knee—to give Morocco a deserved 1–0 lead.

Morocco continued to push before the break and came close to doubling their advantage in the 38th minute when Ez Abde Ezzalzouli fired a shot from the edge of the penalty area, only to see his effort drift just wide of the post.

Deep into first-half stoppage time, El Kaabi had another promising opportunity after being picked out by Ezzalzouli. He drove into the left side of the penalty area and took a shot, but once again the ball narrowly missed the target, leaving Morocco with a slim but controlled lead at half-time.

The second half between Cameroon and Morocco struggled to find any real rhythm, with very little quality football on display for the opening 15 minutes after the restart. The first genuine chance of the half came only in the 60th minute, when Achraf Hakimi delivered another dangerous corner. Ezzalzouli met the ball with a header, but his effort flew just over the crossbar.

Just two minutes later, Morocco went close again. Hakimi sent in a teasing cross, leading to a collision between Saibari and the Cameroonian goalkeeper. The loose ball rolled toward the goal, but defender Kotto reacted quickly to clear it off the line and keep Cameroon in the contest.

Cameroon finally threatened in the 72nd minute from a set piece of their own. Bryan Mbeumo swung a corner toward the far post, where N’Koudou arrived a fraction too late. He still managed to get a touch on the ball, but it drifted wide of the goal.

Morocco sealed the match ten minutes from time. In the 74th minute, a free-kick delivery found Ezzalzouli at the back post, and his header dropped perfectly for Saibari inside the box. The midfielder made no mistake, firing past the goalkeeper to spark celebrations in the stands and give Morocco a commanding lead.

AFCON 2025 - ROUND OF 16

Friday

Mali - Senegal 0-1 (0-1)

/Ndiaye 27/

Cameroon - Morocco 0-2 (0-1)

/Diaz 26, Saibari 74/

Saturday

19.00: (3.30) Algeria (3.15) Nigeria (2.45)

22.00: (3.30) Egypt (2.85) Ivory Coast (2.55)

***odds are subject to change***