Morocco waited 22 years for this feeling, and they grabbed it with both hands. On Friday in Rabat, the hosts beat Cameroon 2-0 and dragged themselves back into the Africa Cup of Nations semi-finals at last.
Brahim Diaz led the charge and the narrative. He scored again, made history with five goals in this tournament, and carried Morocco’s attack with confidence rather than caution.
Morocco controlled the game through structure, not chaos. They pressed high without overcommitting, squeezed Cameroon wide, and forced them into hopeful balls that their defence read comfortably.
Ismail Saibari sealed the win with ruthless efficiency. Morocco did not chase spectacle; they chased control, and Cameroon never wrestled it back.
After the match, Walid Regragui kept his feet firmly on the ground. “We are taking it one match at a time,” he said, a sensible line that fits a coach who knows tournaments punish arrogance faster than mistakes.
That caution matters. Morocco now carry expectation as hosts, not outsiders, and history shows that weight can suffocate teams who forget the basics.
They now face the winner of Algeria and Nigeria in the semi-final. Either way, Morocco enter that tie with belief, balance, and a forward who cannot stop scoring.
Elsewhere, Senegal edged past a ten-man Mali side thanks to Iliman Ndiaye. The defending champions continue their quiet efficiency and will meet either Ivory Coast or Egypt in the other semi-final.
For Morocco, though, this night belonged to memory and release. After 22 years of waiting, they finally feel part of the business end again.
