On Friday, 9 January 2026, host nation Morocco made a statement in Rabat. A 2-0 win over Cameroon carried the Atlas Lions into the AFCON 2025 semi-finals for the first time since 2004 and ended a nagging tournament hoodoo against the Indomitable Lions. In the same quarterfinal round, Senegal edged Mali 1-0 thanks to a late strike from Lamine Ndiaye to also reach the last four.

This was more than a scoreline. It was a mood shift. Morocco, roared on at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, looked bold, organised and ruthless when it mattered. Cameroon, rattled by an early injury and unable to hit the target all night, had no answer to the hosts’ control.

Diaz strikes again as Morocco dominate Cameroon

From the opening whistle, Morocco played on the front foot. They pressed high, kept the ball, and forced Cameroon into their own half. The pressure showed up in the numbers: six Morocco corners flew in during the first 25 minutes alone.

The breakthrough felt like a matter of time, and it came in the 26th minute. Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz, the tournament’s in-form talisman, scored his fifth goal in five AFCON matches. The move was simple and sharp: Achraf Hakimi drove in a corner, Ayoub El Kaabi flicked it on, and Díaz got goalside to guide the ball over the line with his thigh from close range. It was the goal Morocco’s dominance deserved.

Cameroon had been shaken moments earlier when Junior Tchamadeu left the pitch in tears on 24 minutes with a suspected knee problem. The back line had not fully reorganised when Morocco struck. It was a swing in both belief and momentum, and Morocco never gave it back.

“Morocco are playing with purpose, not panic — that’s the big change.”

Saibari silences critics; Rabat erupts

After the hour mark, Morocco nearly doubled the lead when Ismael Saibari’s effort was cleared off the line by Kotto amid a scramble with goalkeeper Devis Epassy. It was a warning for Cameroon, and three minutes after Georges-Kévin Nkoudou headed wide from a Bryan Mbeumo corner, the hosts landed the final blow.

With a quarter of an hour left, Morocco made it 2-0. Abde Ezzalzouli whipped a free-kick from the right, Nayef Aguerd rose and glanced a clever header across the box, and Saibari arrived unmarked at the back post to sweep a low finish into the corner. The stadium erupted. For Saibari, who has taken criticism earlier in the tournament, it was a sweet and timely response.

At 2-0 up, the noise inside Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium carried a clear message: belief. With the crowd behind them, Morocco closed out the tie with calm, moving the ball with care and shutting down the counter.

“Brahim’s spark and Saibari’s finish — that’s a contender’s spine right there.”

Cameroon’s night unravels: injury and a blunt attack

Cameroon’s plan took an early hit with Tchamadeu’s injury. From there, chances were scarce and the cutting edge was missing. Nkoudou’s back-post header wide in the 71st minute was as close as they came. The stats tell a stark story: five total shots, but none on target. It was only their second match since 2010 without registering a shot on frame.

Morocco, by contrast, were efficient and dangerous. They finished with nine shots and an expected goals (xG) total of 1.44 to Cameroon’s 0.42. The gap in shot quality matched the gap in control.

“Zero shots on target for Cameroon says it all — plan A never became plan B.”

History rewritten for Morocco at AFCON 2025

This result carried deep historical weight. Morocco had never beaten Cameroon at AFCON in three previous attempts. Across all competitions, this was only their third win in 13 meetings. Ending that streak on home soil, to reach a first AFCON semi-final since 2004, gives the campaign a charged new energy.

There is also a clear narrative leader. Díaz has scored in every round so far. He has been the spark since day one, and his timing inside the box continues to unlock tight games. Around him, the set-piece work has been smart and rehearsed: Hakimi’s delivery, El Kaabi’s movement, Aguerd’s aerial power, and Saibari’s runs attacked Cameroon where they were vulnerable.

What’s next: Nigeria or Algeria await in Rabat

Morocco will return to Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium for the semi-final to face the winner of Nigeria vs Algeria. The setting suits them. The rhythm looks right. The hosts have found their stride, and crucially, they have different ways to score. That matters in knockout football.

Senegal edge Mali: Ndiaye delivers late

In the other quarterfinal referenced in the day’s action, Senegal beat Mali 1-0. Lamine Ndiaye provided the decisive late goal that sent the holders through. It was a result built on patience and resolve, and it keeps Senegal in the hunt to defend their crown.

Numbers that tell the story

• Morocco 2-0 Cameroon — goals from Brahim Díaz (26’) and Ismael Saibari (around 74’).
• Early wave: Morocco earned six corners in the opening 25 minutes.
• Shot profile: Morocco 9 shots (xG 1.44), Cameroon 5 shots (xG 0.42).
• On target: Cameroon finished with 0 shots on target (second such match since 2010).
• History: Morocco’s first AFCON semi since 2004; first AFCON win over Cameroon; only their third win in 13 meetings overall.
• Set-piece clinic: Hakimi corner → El Kaabi flick → Díaz; Ezzalzouli free-kick → Aguerd touch → Saibari.

Final word

Morocco did not just win; they controlled, they adapted, and they punished. The hosts look organised, balanced and confident, with Díaz in form and key contributors stepping up at the right times. Cameroon will reflect on an untimely injury and a blunt attack. Senegal, meanwhile, keep moving with a champion’s steadiness after Ndiaye’s late winner.

AFCON 2025 now heads into a heavyweight semi-final stage. Morocco stay in Rabat, history at their back, and momentum in their legs. The hosts have finally broken through. The next chapter could be even louder.