Brahim Diaz Fires Morocco Into AFCON Semi-Finals

Morocco marched into the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004, powered by the irresistible scoring form of Brahim Diaz, whose golden run shows no sign of abating. In Rabat on a charged night of continental football, the hosts overcame Cameroon 2–0 in the quarter-finals, extending Diaz’s remarkable streak to five consecutive matches with a goal in the tournament.

The Real Madrid winger struck in the 26th minute, latching onto a moment of hesitation in the Cameroonian defence and finishing with the composure of a seasoned marksman. It was not merely another goal, but a historic one: Diaz became the first Moroccan player ever to score in five straight matches at an Africa Cup of Nations. For a nation steeped in footballing heritage, it was a milestone of genuine significance.

Morocco were not lavish in their attacking output, registering just three shots on target throughout the contest, yet their efficiency was ruthless. The second goal arrived in the 74th minute through midfielder Ismaël Saibari, whose assured finish effectively sealed the contest and extinguished Cameroon’s hopes of a late revival.

Cameroon, five-time champions of Africa, struggled to impose themselves. They failed to test goalkeeper Yassine Bounou even once over the 90 minutes, leaving the Moroccan custodian with one of the quieter evenings of his international career. There was controversy after the interval when Cameroon appealed vehemently for a penalty following an incident involving Bryan Mbeumo inside the box, but the referee waved play on, much to the frustration of the Indomitable Lions.

For all the jubilation, there was a note of concern for Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui. Diaz was forced off late in the match after picking up an injury, casting a shadow over celebrations and raising questions about his availability for the semi-final.

Defensively, Morocco continue to impress. No side has yet managed to score against them from open play in this tournament, underlining a balance between defensive solidity and clinical finishing that has carried them deep into the competition.

Elsewhere in the quarter-finals, Senegal edged past Mali 1–0 in Tangier, thanks to Iliman Ndiaye’s opportunistic strike after a costly goalkeeping error. Mali’s task became even harder when captain Yves Bissouma was dismissed on the stroke of half-time after receiving a second yellow card. The result sees Senegal reach the semi-finals for the third time in the last four editions.

Later fixtures will determine Morocco and Senegal’s final-four opponents, with Nigeria facing Algeria and defending champions Ivory Coast meeting Egypt.

Key Match & Tournament Details

Upcoming Semi-Finals

With history beckoning and momentum firmly on their side, Morocco now stand just one match away from a first AFCON final in two decades—provided their talismanic Diaz is fit to continue his extraordinary run.