By Eniola Olatunji reporting for Patmos Media Line
…Sets up Quarterfinal against Winner of Nigeria Versus Algeria on January 14 at 9.00pm
THE WAR of Lions between the host Atlas Lions of Morocco and the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon played at the Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Friday night ended with Morocco becoming invincible in a 2-0 win before a fan capacity of 65,000 more than three quarter of them Moroccans drumming and yelling ceaselessly.
The first goal looks offside with Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz who just stood with the Cameroonian Goalkeeper for the ball to hit his body and cross the line for a goal but Mauritanian Ref D. Beida did not bother to consult the VAR for that goal or any incident whatsoever throughout the match.
He blew at will against any contact with the Moroccan players but then Diaz was credited with the first goal in the 26th minute.
Diaz has a record of scoring in every five games played so far remaining the highest goal scorer in the tournament with five goals.
The Moroccans were far more of a tactical team forcing out the Moroccans away from their half until Cameroon got a ginger 20 minutes to go and started piling pressure, but no consolation goal came their way.
The second goal of Morocco in the 74th minute was a beauty to behold as Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd took a lovely corner kick to unmarked PSV midfielder on the far side, Ismael Saibari then spinned a low diagonal ball that bye passed cluster of legs into the net.
The Moroccans look invincible now conceding only one goal and having three clean slates with 9 goals now. With the vociferous crowd and the defensive tactics of the Moroccan Manager Walid Regragui popularly known as the Bald man because of lack of hair on his head, it will be very difficult for any team to beat them hands down.
Morocco is meeting the winner of the match between Nigeria and Algeria in the semifinal on Wednesday at 9pm.
Morocco had a better current form result than Cameroon as she scored 7 goals conceded any one and had three clean slates (no conceding a single goal in a match and in this tournament in three matches).
She defeated Comoros 2-0; played 1-1 with Mali; drubbed Zambia 3-0 at the group stages before sending off Tanzania by a nail-biting late goal 1-0 in the round of 16 games.
Cameroon, playing so physically in this tournament, piped Gabon 1-0; played 1-1 draw with Ivory Coast and defeated Mozambique 2-1 at the group stages and then stopped the world cup bound South Africa 2-1 in the round of 16 matches.
Both countries met 7 times with Cameroon winning two matches, Morocco won two matches too and three games were drawn. Morocco scored 7 of the 11 goals scored. Both countries met at AFCON twice and each country won a game.
The highest score was Morocco 4 Cameroon 0 of 3rd February 2021 in an African Championship game.
The Lions of Cameroon ranked 57 in the world has been old faces at AFCON parties with their 22nd appearances winning the title five times second to Egypt that won it seven times. Cameroon won in 1984, 1998, 2008, 2002 and 2017.
The Atlas Lions of morocco ranked 11 in the world appeared 20 times at the mundial winning the tile once in 1976 in Ethiopia, winning the Silver in 2004, never won Bronze but placed 4th twice.
Tomorrow Saturday, at 5.00pm the much-anticipated encounter between The Super Eagles of Nigeria and the Desert Warriors of Algeria will be played in Marrakesh while the 4th quarterfinal between the highest decorated team with seven titles, Pharaohs of Egypt and Elephants of Ivory Coast will take place at Agadir at 8.00pm.
The Semifinal schedule is as follows:
First Semifinal is Senegal vs Egypt/Ivory Coast at Tangier on Wednesday 14th January at 6.00pm.
Second semifinal is Morocco vs Algeria/Nigeria at Abdellah, Morocco at 9.00pm.
#AFCON25 #CAF #FRMF #FMF #SAFA
#FEBEFOOT #TFF#FECAFOOT #SFA
#FAFA #EFA #NFF.
