sports
January 10, 2026
Morocco sail into Afcon semi-finals as Díaz sparks fine win over Cameroon
At last, Morocco have arrived at the tournament they are hosting. For four games they had played scratchy, crabbed football. Finally, in a spiky, ill-tempered quarter-final, there was something more like the Morocco that reached the semi-finals of the World Cup two years ago. If the game wasn’t fluent, that was largely Cameroon’s doing as they spoiled and delayed and sought treatment for injuries. But the hosts, for the most part, retained their cool, protecting a lead earned with verve in the first half with maturity in the second.
TL;DR
- Morocco defeated Cameroon in a tense Cup of Nations quarter-final, showing improved performance.
- Goals from Brahim Díaz and Ismael Saibari secured the win for Morocco.
- Cameroon employed delaying tactics and sought treatment for injuries to disrupt the game.
- Coach Walid Regragui faced previous criticism but the team's improved play may alleviate pressure.
- Morocco are hosts of the 2030 World Cup and last won the Cup of Nations 50 years ago.
- Cameroon had a chaotic buildup to the tournament with coaching disputes but performed better than expected.
- The referee's late appointment after a protest by the Moroccan football federation was a point of contention.
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