Díaz Fires Morocco Into AFCON Quarterfinal Against Cameroon

Brahim Díaz continued his incredible form to keep Morocco’s title hopes alive on Sunday, January 4, 2026.

Meanwhile, five-time champions Cameroon defeated South Africa 2-1 in a thrilling encounter.

These results set the stage for a massive quarterfinal clash between the Indomitable Lions and the hosts this Friday.

In front of a home crowd, Morocco secured a narrow 1-0 win over Tanzania. Later that evening, Cameroon delivered a clinical performance in Rabat to overcome a resilient South African side.

Morocco Marches On: The Díaz Effect

The atmosphere at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium was electric. Nearly 70,000 fans watched as Brahim Díaz scored the winning goal in the 64th minute. After a pass from captain Achraf Hakimi, Díaz fired a powerful shot from a tight angle to beat the Tanzanian goalkeeper.

This goal marks Díaz’s fourth strike in four matches, making him the top scorer of the tournament so far. As the host nation, Morocco will continue to play at this venue as they chase their first continental title since 1976.

Cameroon Ends South Africa’s Journey

In the second match of the evening, Cameroon showed tactical discipline to defeat a dominant South Africa.

This 2-1 victory is highly significant. It ended Cameroon’s seven-game winless streak against “Bafana Bafana.”

Key Match Highlights:

The Opener: Junior Tchamadeu scored in the 34th minute. He curled a precise finish into the net after South Africa failed to clear a corner.

The Header: The Indomitable Lions doubled their lead right after halftime. In the 47th minute, Christian Kofane scored with a perfectly timed diving header.

Late Drama: South Africa pushed hard and scored through Evidence Makgopa in the 88th minute. However, the Cameroonian defense held firm to secure the win.

Upcoming Round of 16 Fixtures

The knockout stage continues today, Monday, January 5, 2026. Fans are eagerly awaiting these final matchups to fill the remaining quarterfinal spots:

Egypt vs. Benin (17:00 local time)

Nigeria vs. Mozambique (20:00 local time)

The highly anticipated quarterfinal between Morocco and Cameroon will take place on Friday, January 9. The winner will move into the final four as the tournament reaches its most intense stage.

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