Brahim Diaz continues to illuminate the Africa Cup of Nations with a run of form that has placed him firmly at the heart of Morocco’s historic campaign. The Real Madrid winger once again found the back of the net as the tournament hosts defeated Cameroon 2–0 in the quarter-final in Rabat on Tuesday night, securing a place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2004.
Diaz’s goal was not merely decisive; it was historic. With his strike against Cameroon, the 24-year-old became the first Moroccan player ever to score in five consecutive matches at the Africa Cup of Nations. His remarkable consistency has propelled Morocco into the final four and reignited memories of their last deep run in the competition more than two decades ago.
The breakthrough arrived in the 26th minute when Diaz calmly finished after sustained Moroccan pressure, sending the home crowd into raptures. Cameroon, five-time champions of Africa, struggled to impose themselves as Morocco controlled the tempo and dictated play. Despite their limited attacking output, the hosts were ruthlessly efficient. They managed just three shots on target throughout the contest, converting two of them into goals.
Morocco doubled their advantage in the 74th minute through midfielder Ismaël Saibari, whose composed finish effectively ended Cameroon’s resistance. The Indomitable Lions did appeal for a penalty in the second half after Bryan Mbeumo went down in the Moroccan penalty area, but the referee waved away the claims, much to Cameroon’s frustration.
Remarkably, Morocco’s goalkeeper Yassine Bounou enjoyed a quiet evening. Cameroon failed to register a single clear-cut chance, and Bounou was not required to make a save across the full ninety minutes—a testament to Morocco’s defensive organisation. Notably, no team has yet scored against Morocco from open play in this tournament, underlining their balance between defensive solidity and attacking efficiency.
However, the victory was not without concern. Diaz was forced off the pitch with an apparent injury late in the match, leaving head coach Walid Regragui anxiously awaiting further medical assessments ahead of the semi-final.
Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Senegal continued their impressive recent record by defeating Mali 1–0 in Tangier. Iliman Ndiaye capitalised on a goalkeeping error in the 27th minute to score the decisive goal. Mali’s task became even more difficult when captain Yves Bissouma was sent off after receiving a second yellow card just before half-time. Senegal have now reached the semi-finals in three of the last four editions of the tournament.
Later tonight in Agadir, defending champions Ivory Coast will face Egypt in another quarter-final clash. The winner will meet Senegal in the semi-finals next Wednesday in Tangier. Meanwhile, Morocco will await the outcome of the Nigeria versus Algeria encounter, with their own semi-final scheduled for Wednesday night.
Key Match Facts: Morocco vs Cameroon
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Match Result | Morocco 2–0 Cameroon |
| Goalscorers | Brahim Diaz (26’), Ismaël Saibari (74’) |
| Venue | Rabat |
| Shots on Target (Morocco) | 3 |
| Saves by Yassine Bounou | 0 |
| Historic Achievement | First Moroccan semi-final since 2004 |
