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Hosts Morocco booked their place in the semi-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding 2-0 victory over Cameroon in Rabat, delivering a performance full of control and confidence.
Goals in either half from Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari sealed a deserved win for the Atlas Lions, who rarely looked troubled in a one-sided quarter-final.
Diaz opened the scoring in the 26th minute, reacting quickest after Ayoub El Kaabi flicked on a corner.
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The Real Madrid forward used his thigh to guide the ball home from close range, registering his fifth goal of the tournament and underlining his importance to Walid Regragui’s side, according to BBC sports.
Cameroon struggled to impose themselves and created little of note, while Morocco continued to dictate play with composure and intensity.
The second goal arrived from another set piece as Saibari pounced on a loose ball following a free-kick, drilling a low left-footed shot past the Cameroonian goalkeeper to double the lead.
Played in a heated atmosphere similar to the scenes generated by North African supporters at the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, the match was at times ill-tempered, but Morocco never lost their focus or grip on proceedings.
The win extends Morocco’s unbeaten run to 25 matches and keeps alive their dream of lifting the Afcon trophy for the first time since 1976.
The Atlas Lions are now just two victories away from continental glory and have reached the last four of the tournament for the first time since 2004, when they finished runners-up to Tunisia.
Morocco will enjoy home advantage once again when they return to the same stadium on Wednesday evening to face either Algeria or Nigeria in the semi-finals.
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