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RABAT, Morocco — Brahim Díaz extended his run of scoring in every round of the Africa Cup of Nations, and Ismael Saibari added a second, to send Morocco through to the quarterfinals following a 2-0 victory over Cameroon in Rabat on Friday.
The Atlas Lions progress to the semifinals for the first time since they were defeated finalists in 2004, and will return to the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Wednesday to face the winner of Nigeria and Algeria, who meet in Marrakesh on Saturday.
Real Madrid‘s Diaz has been the spark in this Morocco team since the tournament began, and made it five goals in five consecutive matches when he deflected Ayoub El Kaabi‘s knock-down past Devis Epassy in the 26th minute to give Morocco the lead that their dominance deserved.
Saibari, criticised by supporters and the media during the tournament to date, added a second in the 74th minute when he met Nayef Aguerd‘s header on following a freekick and lashed home unmarked.
They’d had a penalty claim waved away inside the first minute when Bilal El Khannouss lifted the ball onto Samuel Kotto’s arm in the box before imploring for a spotkick, energising the home support, who had been urged to turn up for the team by head coach Walid Regragui after some indifferent backing during the tournament so far.
Their whistling was deafening whenever Cameroon had anything resembling sustained possession, while any incident resembling a foul by the Indomitable Lions received roars of disapprobation.
David Pagou deserves immense credit for moulding a functional team from the carcass of Marc Brys’s reign after replacing the Belgian coach less than three weeks before the tournament.
Abde Ezzalzouli, one of several Morocco players to have carried a threat during this tournament, had a free kick cleared by Christian Kofane early on, while a teasing cross from the Real Betis wideman required an acrobatic clearance from Nouhou Tolo inside the opening exchanges as the hosts found their range.
Achraf Hakimi, starting his second consecutive match, forced an early booking from Arthur Avom after being brought down on the edge of the box, with the Paris Saint-Germain‘s running in interior channels adding such a fresh dimension to this Morocco team as he makes his return to full fitness.
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Cameroon suffered a setback in the 24th minute when Junior Tchamadeu was replaced in tears after appearing to pick up a knee injury, and the Indomitable Lions had not yet reorganised themselves defensively when they went behind. El Kaabi knocked down a Hakimi corner into the path of Diaz, who got goalside of Tolo and diverted the ball beyond Devis Epassy from close range.
El Kaabi played in Ezzalzouli in the 37th minute as the hosts forged another opening, although the Spain-based wideman was only able to sent a right-footed curler wide of Epassy’s post.
Morocco went in at the break with just under 60 percent possession, having attempted five shots to Cameroon’s two, and the contest followed a similar rhythm after the pause, with Ezzalzouli racing across goal to meet a corner and send a fierce header over the bar.
Soon after the hour mark, Kotto cleared off the Cameroon goalline at full stretch after Saibari had leapt to meet Hakimi’s cross, colliding with Epassy in the process but still seeing a deflected effort diverted towards goal.
It was a reminder to Cameroon that they needed to do something, anything, and they sought to intensify their attacking threat thereafter, with Bryan Mbeumo seeing increasingly more of the ball down Morocco’s left.
A Mbeumo corner found substitute Georges-Kevin Nkoudou at the backpost in the 71st, but his diving header was wide of the mark, and three minutes later, Saibari added a second.
Ezzalzouli’s sharp delivery from the right found Aguerd, leaping above the Cameroon defenders, and his knock-on was received by Saibari, unmarked, who rifled home into the corner of Epassy’s net.
Cameroon leave with their heads held high after overcoming their chaotic preparation to reach the quarters, while Morocco, with enthusiasm now revived after their recent stuttering performances, may never have a better chance of ending their half-century wait for an African title.
