The Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals get underway this afternoon with three of the tournament favourites eyeing for a place in the last four.
Hosts Morocco will face their sternest test of the competition so far as they take on Cameroon, who have already showed their title credentials by holding defending champions Ivory Coast to a 1-1 draw.
Real Madrid midfielder Brahim Diaz will look to continue his stellar form for the Atlas Lions, going into the game as Afcon 2025’s top scorer with four goals, though Cameroon have significant firepower of their own in the form of Manchester United star Bryan Mbeumo.
The mammoth quarter-final clash takes place after Senegal saw off Mali in a 1-0 win, with Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye capitalising on a goalkeeping error to make the difference and set up a tantalising semi-final tie against either Egypt or Ivory Coast.
Follow all the latest updates from the Afcon 2025 quarter-finals:
Cameroon 0-1 Morocco
32 mins: Morocco are good value for their lead. They’ve been in near-total control since kick-off.
Cameroon are having their most joy with deliveries from deep, hoping to cause chaos in the Morocco box, but so far the host nation have dealt with everything that’s come their way.
Morocco’s press is also relentless. Cameroon’s defenders are being swarmed.
GOAL! Cameroon 0-1 Morocco (Diaz, 26′)
Morocco have lift off, and it’s that man again!
Having peppered Cameroon’s box with crosses so far, this delivery finally leads to a goal as Diaz knocks El Kaabi’s header goalwards.
That’s five goals in five games for the Real Madrid man. He is in incredible form.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
24 mins: Tchamedeu is stretchered off and replaced by Dina Ebimbe.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
22 mins: Tchamedeu is back on the deck – and this time, it’s the end of his evening.
The stretcher is out and judging by his tearful reaction, he probably knows this is the last he will play at this Afcon.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
18 mins: Cameroon players are furious as Brahim Diaz’s high boot meets the head of an opposition rather as he tries to connect with a low Hakimi free-kick.
The referee initially pointed for a corner but Cameroon ended up restarting play from their own box – he obviously changed his mind.
Tchamadeu is back on, by the way, and up the other end launches a HUGE throw towards the Morocco box. Headed away.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
15 mins: The miracle spray has been applied and Tchamadeu is back to his feet.
Play nevertheless gets back underway with Cameroon a man down.
A delightful cross is aimed for El Kaabi but it’s flicked beyond his reach. We know what he can do from crosses – two third of his goals this tournament have been bicycle kicks.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
14 mins: This looks a big concern for Cameroon and Tchamadeu.
He tries to tackle Mazraoui and in doing so, the United defender’s full body weight lands on his leg.
He’s holding his shirt over his eyes, looking in tears.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
11 mins: Hakimi tries slipping it down the line to catch out the Cameroon defence from the free-kick but gets the pass all wrong, passing it out for a goal-kick.
Nice idea, poor execution.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
10 mins: Great clearance from Malone to deal with a low cross towards the back post, but Morocco keep up the pressure and now have a free-kick outside the box.
Shooting position for Hakimi, this.
Cameroon 0-0 Morocco
8 mins: Morocco send in a succession of corners – some to a better standard than others – but as Cameroon clear, they demonstrate their threat on the counter.
Aguerd does very well to deal with the break on this occasion, but Morocco will need to be wary.
Source: independent.co.uk