AFCON 2025 - Preview: Morocco vs Cameroon

Morocco, between defensive mastery and expectation of an offensive trigger

Qualified for the quarter-finals without really impressing as expected, Morocco advances  with a paradoxical feeling. Efficient in the results, but still in search of fluidity in the game, the host country has so far responded without fully convincing.
The Atlas Lions started their tournament with a neat victory against Comoros (2-0), before conceding a disappointing draw against Mali (1-1). A clearer victory against Zambia (3-0) in the last group stage partially reassured, before a closed round of 16 against Tanzania, won from the smallest margin thanks to Brahim Díaz, already four goals scored in the competition.

The true Moroccan strength, however, remains defensive strength. With only one goal conceded in four games, the team led by Walid Regragui has the best defensive record of the teams still in contention. A base that allows him to approach this quarter-final with a certain serenity.

Another important data: the rise of Achraf Hakimi. Gradually returning from injury, the Moroccan captain has not yet delivered his reference match, but his growing influence on the right lane nourishes the hope of a shift into higher gear in a game with maximum stake.

Cameroon growing in confidence with time
Facing Morocco, Cameroon arrives with a very particular status. Historically, no African team has shone as brilliantly against the AFCON host countries as the Indomitable Lions. In 13 confrontations against host nations, Cameroon have only lost twice and remain unbeaten in their last six outings of this nature. In the knockout phase, they even eliminated the host country 5 times. A still lively precedent on the Moroccan side, since during the 1988 edition, played in Morocco, Cameroon had eliminated the host in the semi-finals.

On the field, the Cameroonian course in this competition reflects its reputation with sobriety and efficiency. Two victories against Gabon and Mozambique, framing a draw held against the defending champion (1-1), were enough to cross the group stage. With only 6 goals scored, Cameroon has one of the lowest offensive totals among the quarterfinalists. But these achievements were spread across 5 different players, making the team hard to read.

The main threat is called Christian Kofane. At 19 years old, the Bayer Leverkusen striker emerged as the offensive revelation of the Indomitable Lions with two goals.
Expected as the leader of the attack, Bryan Mbeumo has not yet found the net, but his impact is measured in the play without a ball and the rapid transition phases. Cameroon assumes a reaction football, compact and disciplined, ready to leave possession to better exploit the slightest adverse error. An approach that strongly contrasts with that of Morocco, the most dominant team in the tournament in terms of possession.

Refereeing and statements: a quarter-final under tension
On the eve of this shock, the news around the meeting moved off the field. Initially designated to referee the quarter-final, the Egyptian Amin Mohamed Omar was finally replaced by the Mauritanian Dahane Beida, who was at the last final of the AFCON between Nigeria and Côte d'Ivoire. This last-minute change, decided by the CAF, comes after tensions behind the scenes. According to several sources, the Royal Moroccan Football Federation was annoyed by the delay in appointing the referee and the initial choice of the referee team, which would have led to a showdown with the Cameroonian Federation, led by Samuel Eto'o. Anxious to avoid any post-match controversy, the CAF preferred to settle by modifying the refereeing.

Tension also invited itself in the speech. In a press conference, Walid Regragui insisted on the balance of forces and the need for total concentration. «The slightest mistake will be punished cash». On the Cameroonian side, Christian Kofane minimised the impact of the Moroccan public, comparing the expected atmosphere in Rabat to that of Borussia Dortmund, estimating that there would be "no pressure".