How AFCON hosts Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 to secure AFCON 2025 semi-final place
SOURCE:The Athletic|BY:Max Mathews and Ed Mackey
Goals from Brahim and Saibari helped Morocco set up a semi-final against Algeria or Nigeria
Goals from Brahim and Saibari helped Morocco set up a semi-final against Algeria or Nigeria
Max Mathews and Ed Mackey
January 9, 2026 at 6:44 PM EST
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Cameroon 0-2 Morocco — AFCON 2025 result
Morocco have punched their ticket to the AFCON 2025 semi-finals by beating Cameroon 2-0 in Rabat.
Brahim Diaz opened the scoring for the tournament hosts with his fifth goal of the tournament before Ismael Saibari doubled their lead with a great strike in the second half.
It was an impressive performance from Walid Regragui's men but the game was somewhat overshadowed by a poor performance from referee Dahane Beida. The Mauritanian official was not planned to take charge of the quarter-final as Egypt's Amin Mohamed Omar had initially been appointed to the match.
Morocco will face either Algeria or Nigeria in Wednesday's semi-final.
Can Morocco’s set-piece strength take them all the way?
Brahim Diaz shines once more
A missed opportunity for Cameroon?
In praise of the Moroccan defence
Below, The Athletic's Liam Tharme and Nnamdi Onyeagwara analyse an intense game in Rabat.
Ez Abde has been excellent as well as Brahim
Brahim Diaz will get all the headlines but I’ve been impressed with Abde Ezzalzouli on Morocco’s left wing.
A couple of deft and silky touches out there, including some impressive defensive work.
The Real Betis winger was very bright.
Five-star Brahim
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According to our friends at Opta, only four players have scored in five separate matches at one AFCON tournament:
1974 - Ndaye Mulamba for DR Congo
2010 - Gedo for Egypt
2022 - Vincent Aboubakar for Cameroon
2025 - Brahim Diaz for Morocco
He could make that more in their semi-final!
Brahim the star man again
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He really just keeps going, Brahim Diaz.
A wonderful player.
Five goals from five AFCON games, his first five AFCON appearances, by the way.
FULL TIME: Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
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That's it!
Morocco are into the semi-finals at AFCON 2025, their home tournament.
They will face the winner of tomorrow's match with Algeria and Nigeria.
All the reaction is on the way.
Don't go anywhere.
Cameroon are still pushing
90+4' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
And Bryan Mbeumo is at the heart of it now, too little too late really.
Mazraoui swipes Tolo down, free kick, then Mbeumo robs Amrabat before crossing, blocked, corner.
Mbeumo swings it in, straight into Bounou's arms.
Brahim is grinning from the sidelines. He knows there are only seconds left...
Cameroon corner now
90+3' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Cameroon win the corner and the referee tries to sort out a whole raft of pushing and shoving.
Cameroon are on the brink of going home here.
The home fans are nearly at fever pitch.
The away players must be feeling like they've just been spun around in a washing machine for two hours.
Five minutes added on
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90+5' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Cameroon launch it long and there are huge cheers as goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who has been largely untested, claims the ball safely.
Mbeumo cuts inside... blocked
89' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Bryan Mbeumo with his brightest, and by that I mean only, moment of the game.
He cuts inside onto his stronger left foot but is crowded out, shot blocked.
Brahim Diaz has a slight knock and Walid Regragui takes him off for forward Hamza Igamane of Lille.
Morocco make two more changes
86' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Off come Ez Abde and Ismael Saibari, on come Soufiane Rahimi and Oussama Targhalline.
Saibari was a yellow card away from a suspension.
Rahimi's first touch is a nasty slide tackle on a Cameroon player. He is booked.
Morocco are basically doing what they want
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85' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
This is getting a bit ridiculous.
From that free kick, Ez Abde decided he wanted the ball further forward and so he just lifted up the foam from the referee's spray, threw it further forward and then re-placed the ball.
Cameroon were, understandably, furious.
Ez Abde brought down
84' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
This is a deserved free kick now as Cameroon chop down the flying Ez Abde outside the penalty area.
Ez Abde and Brahim over it, Ez Abde takes, into the wall.
HOW is that a Morocco free kick?
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82' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
I do not believe this.
The refereeing tonight has been woeful.
Cameroon send it into the box, Adam Masina flings an arm into Karl Etta Eyong's face as he steps in to challenge, Etta Eyong goes down and so Masina does as well, seemingly feigning a head injury this time.
The referee, 20 yards away, decides that Cameroon should have the free kick given against them. It's not necessarily a Cameroon penalty, but it should never be a Morocco free kick.
En-Nesyri fakes an injury
80' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Youssef En-Nesyri, the sub, wins a soft free kick in midfield and then under almost no contact makes an audible yelp and rolls around as if injured.
Cameroon rightly pay no attention and play on, and he suddenly jumps to his feet when he realises the referee hasn't fallen for it.
This looks like game over
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79' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
It seems like Morocco are very well set to progress to the semi-finals now.
Cameroon are throwing men forward in desperation.
Triple change from Morocco
77' Cameroon 0-2 Morocco
Karl Etta Eyong is on for Christian Kofane up front, Frank Magri for Danny Namaso in attacking midfield, and Jean Onana replaces Carlos Baleba in midfield.
