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10 mins: Rather than shoot or cross, Hakimi goes for the Argentina ‘98 option, trying to slip a pass into Brahim’s path – but it’s badly overhit, rolling out for a goal kick. A waste, to be honest.
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9 mins: Morocco come straight back at Cameroon, though, and the charging Hakimi is hacked down by Avom. Yellow card, and a chance for Hakimi to test the keeper from 25 yards …
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8 mins: Saibari whips a cross in towards El Kaabi, which Tolo clears acrobatically away …
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7 mins: The corner is cleared and Cameroon threaten to break in numbers – but Carlos Baleba is caught by Aguerd, showing a decent turn of pace for a centre-back to rescue the situation.
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5 mins: After a scrappy spell of play, danger man Brahim Diaz gets on the ball and is tripped up by Danny Namaso Loader. Free kick to Morocco on the edge of the area, cleared behind by Kofane.
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“Whatever happens today, Cameroon have won Africa’s style war this time round.,” writes Justin Kavanagh. “Just look at that shirt design! It’s a work of art.”
Photograph: Paul Ellis/AFP/Getty ImagesShare
2 mins: Ezzalzouli hares after a long ball down the left, but can’t keep it in play.
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1 min: The hosts, playing in all white, kick off to a raucous reception. El Khannouss appeals hopefully for a penalty after his early cross hits Kotto on the shoulder.
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First half
The anthems ring out around the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, with the entire crowd belting out the Moroccan anthem. It’s go time!
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It’s an eclectic live line-up tonight. John Brewin is covering Wrexham v Nottingham Forest as the FA Cup third round swings into action.
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Facing Cameroon will bring back memories of a grim chapter in Morocco’s Afcon history. Back in 1988, the hosts lost 1-0 to the Indomitable Lions in the semi-final – but the game was marred by Andre Kana-Biyik’s headbutt on Hassan Mouahid, which went unpunished by the referee.
Mouahid was taken to hospital with a broken nose, and false rumours of his death reached the home dressing room. With Morocco players stricken and confused, Cyrille Makanaky struck a late winner and Cameroon went to the final, where they beat Nigeria 1-0.
“Moroccan fans suffer from real psychological trauma because of that match,” former Cameroon coach Claude Le Roy told Foot Africa. “Their biggest fear at Afcon 2025 was drawing Cameroon again.”
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Some great images from inside the respective dressing rooms – Morocco are quiet, tense but focused, while Cameroon players are dancing and banging drums. An indication of where the pressure lies.
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“Do you still see Morocco as favourites, compared to Nigeria or Ivory Coast?” asks Zach Neeley. “Or is that a holdover from pre-tournament prognostication?”
Yes, it’s more the burden of being hosts and favourites – they haven’t been the best team so far in the tournament, although they’re certainly good enough to go on and win it all.
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Team news
Cameroon (3-4-2-1): Epassy; Malone, Kotto, Tolo (c); Tchamadeu, Avom, Baleba, Nagida; Mbeumo, Namaso; Kofane.
Subs from: Medjo, Wooh, Nyamsi, Nkoudou, Onana, Magri, Bassogog, Soko, Ngameni, Kemen, Etta Eyong, Boyomos, Ngapandouetnbu, Ebimbe, Kamdem.
Morocco (4-3-3): Bounou; Hakimi (c), Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Khannous, El Aynaoui, Saibari; Ezzalzouli, El Kaabi, Brahim Díaz.
Subs from: Amrabat, Hamza, Rahimi, Mohamedi, Ben Seghir, Targhaline, Chibi, Chakkour, El Yamiq, En-Nesyri, Talbi, Harrar, Salah-Eddine, Ait Boudlal, Belammari.
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Updated at 19.04 GMT
Channel 4’s coverage has expanded for the quarter-finals, with studio analysis from Jay-Jay Okocha and Jon Obi Mikel. It’s still parked on E4 though, with A Place in the Sun currently showing on the main channel.
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Full time: Mali 0-1 Senegal
Senegal hold on to defeat 10-man Mali after a lively second half where both teams spurned chances to score. Iliman Ndiaye got the only goal in the first half, pouncing on a goalkeeping error before Yves Bissouma was sent off after picking up two bookings. Next up for Senegal: either Egypt or Côte d’Ivoire in the semi-finals.
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Preamble
It’s crunch time at the Africa Cup of Nations, with the continent’s biggest teams assembling in a historically heavyweight line-up. With Senegal closing on victory over Mali in the first quarter-final, the seven sides left will all be former champions, with 22 continental titles between them.
That leaves Morocco, the hosts and highest-ranked team, under severe pressure to deliver a first title since 1976. The Atlas Lions cannot shake off their status as favourites, but the path to glory could scarcely be more perilous. Get through today’s battle, and either in-form Nigeria or neighbours Algeria are up next.
Not that Morocco can afford to get ahead of themselves. Cameroon may be the lowest-ranked side left, having failed to reach the 2026 World Cup, but they are unbeaten and have a breakout star in striker Christian Kofane. If Morocco repeat their nervous display against Tanzania in the last 16, they are likely to be punished.
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