Hosts Morocco power into AFCON semis with 2-0 win over Cameroon

VIDEO SHOWS: POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE SOUNDBITES FROM MOROCCO COACH WALID REGRAGUI AND MAN OF THE MATCH ISMAEL SAIBARI SHOWS: RABAT, MOROCCO (JANUARY 9, 2026) (STATS PERFORM – Access all) 1. MOROCCO COACH, WALID REGRAGUI, ENTERING PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER 2-0 WIN OVER CAMEROON IN AFCON QUARTER-FINAL MATCH AT PRINCE MOULAY ABDELLAH STADIUM 2. (SOUNDBITE) (French) (ROUGH TRANSLATION) MOROCCO COACH, WALID REGRAGUI ON THE MATCH, SAYING: "Well, thank you, thank you. Above all, thank you to the players, the fans. Today, we played with 12 players. We played one of our best first halves of the season, I think since the World Cup, maybe since the Brazil game too, the first half, in any case, a lot of intensity, a lot of rituals, a lot of pressing. We created chances, we opened up the game and then stopped after a lot of free kicks and a lot of corners. I think the victory was deserved in the second half. The game was more balanced, even in terms of possession. So, did we deliberately sit back, that wasn't our objective at the start but I think Cameroon changed the system, switched to four at the back, took more risks with passes, played a lot of long balls, which forced us to drop back on second balls and in duels. They're a team that plays with a lot of intensity, a lot of energy, and I hope we don't pay for that intensity. In any case, the next game is historic. It's been 22 years since Moroccans have seen their national team in the semifinals of the Cup of Nations. I think they deserve it, the fans and the players too, because they want to make history. Now, as I told them, we need to keep our feet on the ground. We have a match ahead of us that will be even more historic if we want to continue our adventure. In any case, today was a great match. We're going to try to recover as quickly as possible, but we're also going to congratulate Cameroon, who played a fantastic game and pushed us to our limits, with a coach who is doing a great job and a young team that will have a say in the years to come." 3. WHITE FLASH 4. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOROCCO COACH, WALID REGRAGUI ON BRAHIM DIAZ, SAYING: "Of course, and he begins the competition amazing. He scores every game. What I am happy about Brahim is not only he scores, he changed his mentality. Tonight what he do, running a lot, he's fighting, he keeps the ball, he sends a message for his team, in the team spirit, it's very important when you see your best player running like this. After if he scores is very important for us but what is important is you work for the team, you do what I want, and you believe in what I want. And he change his mentality, I work a lot with him about this, he can be the best player of the world if he want. He work a lot for the team and he change this, of course. Today he is the x-factor of my team, but not only Brahim, but I am very happy about him and I want to tell him congratulation a lot because now he understand what is Moroccan blood, to run, to fight, and to give what you have." 5. MOROCCO MAN OF THE MATCH ISMAEL SAIBARI AT POST MATCH PRESS CONFERENCE 6. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOROCCO MAN OF THE MATCH, ISMAEL SAIBARI, ON THE MATCH, SAYING: "It was an intensive game, with a lot of intensity, but defensively we were solid, and then in attack we created our chances and luckily we scored the two goals." 7. WHITE FLASH 8. (SOUNDBITE) (English) MOROCCO MAN OF THE MATCH, ISMAEL SAIBARI, AFTER BEING ASKED ABOUT MOROCCANS NOT BELIEVING THEY WOULD WIN THE MATCH AGAINST CAMEROON AND WHAT THEY WILL DO TO PREPARE FOR THE SEMI-FINAL, SAYING: "And I do not agree that a lot of Moroccans thought we were going to go out. I think everyone was behind us. They supported us, so I don't think they had that thought. And second of all, to prepare for the semifinal you have to know your opponent, but yeah we're going to prepare for it. First we're going to rest today and tomorrow and then work hard and see what we didn't do good in this game, to better it." 9. DIAZ HOLDING UP MAN OF THE MATCH TROPHY AND WALKING OUT OF PRESS CONFERENCE STORY: Brahim Diaz scored for the fifth game in a row at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as hosts Morocco defeated Cameroon 2-0 in their quarter-final clash on Friday (January 9) to keep alive their hopes of a first continental title in 50 years. Ismael Saibari was also on target in another workmanlike display in which Morocco were efficient enough, but also created little in the way of chances, netting from two of their three shots on target. Cameroon had a strong shout for a penalty in the second half after what looked like a foul on Bryan Mbeumo but they too battled in the final third and did not force home goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into a save in the 90 minutes. Morocco, who have yet to concede a goal in open play at the finals, face the winner of Saturday's third quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria in the next round, a tie that will be played in Rabat on Wednesday. The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute via the prolific Diaz as the Real Madrid player showed his scoring instinct. Achraf Hakimi's corner was headed goalwards by Ayoub El Kaabi and Diaz deflected the ball in from close range. He has now scored in each of Morocco's five games and extends his own record for most goals by a Moroccan at a single Cup of Nations finals, but left the field late on with a heavily strapped thigh that will be a concern for coach Walid Regragui. Chances were hard to come by for both sides, but Abde Ezzalzouli headed narrowly over the crossbar from another Hakimi corner, while the latter laid on a headed chance for Saibari that was spurned. Cameroon were unfortunate not to get a penalty kick when Mbeumo was caught in the box as Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida waved play on, while Georges-Kevin Nkoudou headed wide at the back post with the Indomitable Lions' best chance of the game. Morocco made it 2-0 minutes later to kill off the contest when Saibari was left unmarked at the back post and had time to control the ball and fire low into the far corner of the net. (Production: David Grip)

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