Cameroon 0-2 Morocco: Brahim Diaz on target again as host nation reach AFCON semi-final | OneFootball

Host nation win battle of the lions to reach AFCON semi-final

Morocco are through to the Africa Cup of Nations semi-final after beating Cameroon on Friday.

As a result, a first semi-final since 2004 beckons for Morocco and the one-time AFCON winners can look forward showdown against either Algeria or Nigeria.

For Cameroon, a disappointing evening was compounded by the loss of defender Junior Tchamadeu after he was reduced to tears upon being stretchered with a potentially serious knee injury.

The story of the quarter-final in Rabat centred around two set-pieces. In the first half Diaz reacted quickest to Ayoub El Kaabi’s near post flick-on from a Achraf Hakimi corner to turn the ball home from close range and break the deadlock.

Cameroon then paid the ultimate price for giving a way a cheap free-kick late in the second half.

A deep cross fell to PSV Eindhoven winger Saibari free at the back post, he took one touch to set himself before firing an effort into the bottom corner to confirm Morocco’s place in the last-four.

Earlier in the day, Iliman Ndiaye's first-half strike was enough for Senegal to beat ten-man Mali 1-0 in the first AFCON 2025 quarter-final.

The Everton forward poked the ball home from close range in the 27th minute after Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra let Krepin Diatta's cross slip through his fingers to land at Ndiaye's feet.

Mali hopes of another comeback hopes took a major blow when he captain and Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma, already on a yellow card, was dismissed just before the break for a foul on Idrissa Gueye.