By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Hosts Morocco beat Cameroon 2-0 in their Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final on Friday to stay on course to win the continental title for the second time.
Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari scored the goals either side of half-time as Morocco set up a semi-final against the winners of last-eight clash between Algeria and Nigeria.
The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute through prolific Diaz as the Real Madrid player showed his scoring instinct. Achraf Hakimi’s corner was headed goalwards by Ayoub El Kaabi and Diaz deflected the ball in from close range.
He has now scored in each of Morocco’s five games and extends his own record for most goals by a Moroccan at a single Cup of Nations finals, but left the field late on with a heavily strapped thigh that will be a concern for coach Walid Regragui.
Cameroon were unfortunate not to get a penalty kick when Bryan Mbeumo was caught in the box as Mauritanian referee Dahane Beida waved play on, while Georges-Kevin Nkoudou headed wide at the back post with the Indomitable Lions’ best chance of the game.
Morocco made it 2-0 minutes later to kill off the contest when Saibari was left unmarked at the back post and had time to control the ball and fire low into the far corner of the net.
The victory marked Morocco’s first AFCON semi-final appearance in 22 years, having last reached this stage during their run to the final in 2004.