Hosts Morocco secured their place in the Africa Cup of Nations semifinals on Friday with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. In front of a raucous crowd of over 64,000 in Rabat, the Atlas Lions ended a 21-year wait to reach the final four, a feat they last achieved in 2004.
Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz continued his exceptional form, scoring for the fifth consecutive match to open the scoring in the 26th minute. Diaz capitalized on Ayoub El Kaabi’s downward header following an Achraf Hakimi corner, nudging the ball home from close range.
The hosts remained in control throughout much of the contest, eventually doubling their lead in the 74th minute. Ismael Saibari, who had faced scrutiny earlier in the tournament, silenced his detractors by controlling Nayef Aguerd’s flick-on and firing a low strike into the far corner to seal the win.
The victory eases the immense pressure on Regragui, who has faced vocal dissatisfaction from sections of the home support despite his team's status as Africa's top-ranked side. Addressing the tension after the final whistle, Regragui emphasized the internal unity of his squad.
“I always say that we are a family,” the coach said. “Even if many people don’t believe in us or in me … that’s OK. We play for the country and for the supporters who want to see Morocco at the top.” The performance was widely regarded as the team’s most cohesive display of the tournament so far.
Cameroon, led by David Pagou, struggled to find an offensive rhythm after losing right wing-back Jackson Tchamadeu to an early knee injury. While they shifted formations in the second half to increase pressure, they failed to register a shot on target against Yassine Bounou.
The Indomitable Lions were left frustrated by a dismissed penalty appeal from Bryan Mbeumo, which Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida waved away. Despite the exit, Pagou’s side earned respect for their resilience throughout a tournament preceded by huge administrative chaos in their national federation.
Morocco now moves to Wednesday’s semifinal in Rabat, where they will face the winner of the quarterfinal clash between Algeria and Nigeria. The host nation is currently attempting to end a 50-year drought, having last won the continental title in 1976. With Achraf Hakimi appearing back to full fitness and Diaz leading the tournament scoring charts, the Atlas Lions have restored local belief that they can finally secure their second AFCON trophy on home soil.