Hosts Morocco booked their place in the semifinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a commanding 2 to 0 victory over Cameroon in Rabat.

Goals in each half from Brahim Diaz and Ismael Saibari ensured a comfortable night for the Atlas Lions, who controlled proceedings in front of a raucous home crowd and limited Cameroon to no shots on target.

Morocco took the lead in the 26th minute after sustained pressure forced a corner. Ayoub El Kaabi flicked the ball on and Diaz reacted sharply, using his thigh to guide the ball into the net from close range for his fifth goal of the tournament.

The hosts continued to dominate an increasingly ill tempered contest, pressing aggressively and forcing Cameroon into repeated defensive errors. Their superiority was underlined midway through the second half when Saibari struck from another dead ball situation, collecting a loose ball from a free kick and firing a low left footed shot across goal in the 74th minute.

Cameroon struggled to cope with the intensity inside the upgraded 69,500 capacity stadium, with the atmosphere echoing the scenes created by Moroccan supporters during the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar. The visitors also suffered a blow when right wing back Junior Tchamadeu was forced off injured.

Morocco rarely looked troubled, even as tempers flared and Cameroon captain Nouhou Tolo was booked for a late challenge on Diaz. Substitute Georges Kevin Nkoudou came closest for the Indomitable Lions, but his late header failed to trouble goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.