The atmosphere in Rabat was electric, with over 64,000 fans witnessing a masterclass in clinical finishing and defensive discipline. Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz continued his scintillating form, opening the scoring in the 26th minute. The breakthrough came when an Achraf Hakimi corner was flicked on by Ayoub El Kaabi, allowing Diaz to find the net for his fifth goal in as many games. While Cameroon’s "Indomitable Lions" fought to stay in the contest, they struggled to pierce a Moroccan backline that has looked impenetrable for much of the tournament. The result was effectively put beyond doubt in the 74th minute when PSV Eindhoven’s Ismael Saibari displayed exquisite control to finish a delivery from Abde Ezzalzouli, sending the home crowd into raptures and exorcising the ghosts of 1988, when Cameroon had famously eliminated Morocco at this same stage.
Despite the euphoria, Morocco head coach Walid Regragui remained a portrait of focused composure. While acknowledging the "historic" nature of the win for a generation of fans, Regragui emphasized that the ultimate goal has not yet been reached, urging his squad to keep their feet on the ground. Morocco now prepares for a high-profile semi-final clash on Wednesday against the winner of the quarter-final between Algeria and Nigeria. Their opponents, Cameroon, exit the tournament with heads held high; coach David Pagou noted that despite the defeat, his side had succeeded in bringing pride back to the Cameroonian people following a turbulent preparation period.
In Tangiers, the narrative was one of grit and tactical endurance as Senegal edged past Mali with a 1-0 victory. The 2022 champions capitalized on a definitive moment in the 27th minute when Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye pounced on a rare error from Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra. The match swung further in Senegal's favor just before the interval when Mali captain Yves Bissouma was dismissed for a second bookable offense. Despite playing with ten men for the entire second half, Mali remained competitive thanks to several acrobatic saves by Diarra, but the "Lions of Teranga" held firm. Senegal coach Pape Thiaw admitted his side could have been more clinical, yet the result keeps them on a collision course with either Ivory Coast or Egypt in what promises to be a blockbuster semi-final.
As the tournament reaches its crescendo, the presence of both Morocco and Senegal in the semi-finals sets the stage for a grand conclusion to this edition of AFCON. The North African hosts are now just two wins away from ending a half-century wait for a continental title, while Senegal remains steadfast in their pursuit of a third final appearance in four years. As the spotlight shifts to Saturday’s remaining quarter-finals, the pressure and prestige of African football have never been more evident, with the continent’s titans now firmly in control of their destinies.
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