Football

AFCON 2025: Díaz, Saibari score as Morocco beat Cameroon to reach semi-final

Hosts Morocco secured a place in the semi-finals of the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 after defeating Cameroon 2-0 on Friday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Goals from Brahim Díaz in the 26th minute and Ismail Saibari in the 74th minute sealed the win for the Atlas Lions. Morocco will face the winner between Algeria and Nigeria in the semi-finals.

Morocco came into the quarter-final after a narrow win over Tanzania in the Round of 16. The victory over Cameroon marked just the third time Morocco has beaten them in 13 matches across all competitions.

From the start, Morocco controlled possession and pressed high, keeping Cameroon in their half. Díaz opened the scoring after Ayoub El Kaabi flicked on a corner from captain Achraf Hakimi.

The goal was Díaz’s fifth of the tournament and made him the second player in AFCON history, after Ghana’s Osei Kofi, to score in five consecutive matches.

Morocco continued to press and had further chances before halftime. Early in the second half, Cameroon attempted to create opportunities but could not break through Morocco’s defence. Georges-Kevin N’Koudou’s header from a corner missed the target.

AFCON 2025: Senegal beat 10-man Mali to reach semi-final

Morocco doubled the lead in the 74th minute. Abde Ezzalzouli delivered a free-kick, Nayef Aguerd touched it on, and Saibari scored from close range.

The goal effectively secured the win, with Cameroon unable to respond.

Senegal also booked a semi-final spot after beating Mali 1-0 in Tangier on Friday. Iliman Ndiaye scored the only goal after a goalkeeper error in the 27th minute.

Mali played the second half with ten men after captain Yves Bissouma was sent off at the end of the first half. Senegal will face either Egypt or Cote D’Ivoire in the semi-finals.

Morocco’s win over Cameroon sets up a semi-final against either Algeria or Nigeria, while Senegal awaits the winner of Egypt and Cote D’Ivoire.

Femi Akinyemi

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