Real Madrid’s Brahim Dias continued his 2025 AFCON scoring streak as Morocco defeated Cameroon in the quarter-finals.
Published January 9, 2026
In the 2025 African Cup of Nations, hosts Morocco defeated Cameroon 2-0 in the quarter-finals on Friday, with Brahim Dias scoring in a fifth straight game to keep alive their hopes of winning the continent’s first title in 50 years.
Ismael Saibari also had a shot on target in another workmanlike play that created few chances, with Morocco being efficient enough, but making 2 of 3 shots on target.
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Cameroon were clamoring for a penalty in the second half following what appeared to be a foul on Brian Mbeumo, but they too competed in the final third and were unable to force home goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into a save in the 90th minute.
Morocco, who have yet to concede a goal in open play in the final, will face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final third leg between Algeria and Nigeria in the next round, before playing in Rabat on Wednesday.
The Real Madrid players showed their scoring instincts and the hosts took the lead in the 26th minute with a goal from the prolific Diaz. Ayoub El Kaabi headed Achraf Hakimi’s corner kick into the goal, and Dias deflected the ball from close range.
He has now scored in all five of Morocco’s games, extending his record for the most goals scored by a Moroccan player in a Nations Cup final, but manager Walid Reglagui will be concerned after he left the pitch late in the game with a severely paralyzed thigh.
Opportunities were few and far between for both teams, but Abde Ezarzouri’s header from a corner kick by Hakimi went over the crossbar, and Saibari’s chance to head in was missed.
Cameroon were unlucky not to get a penalty kick, but Mauritanian referee Dahane Beyda waved on a play-on, Mbeumo was caught inside the penalty area and Georges-Kevin Nkoudou’s header went wide at the back post, giving the Indomitable Lions their best chance of the game.
Morocco ended the contest after 2-0 minutes when Saibari broke free at the back post and had time to control the ball and fire a low shot into the corner of the net.
