Cameroon v Morocco: Line-ups, stats and preview

Match Preview

Tournament hosts Morocco face an extremely tough test in their quest to win the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil as they face Cameroon in the quarter-finals.

Morocco, semi-finalists at the next World Cup, remain the favourites to lift the trophy. However, they haven’t been overly convincing to this point and did not find the decisive goal in their last-16 clash with Tanzania until the 64th minute.

A meeting with another of African football’s traditional heavyweights represents a significant step up in the level of opposition for the Atlas Lions.

Cameroon will not be joining them at the 2026 World Cup after failing to qualify, but their 2-1 win over South Africa, another team that will be present in North America in the summer, in the last 16 served as a reminder of their quality and their threat.

Morocco have never beaten Cameroon in the AFCON, and lost to them in the semi-finals the last time the tournament was held in the country in 1988.

But coach Walid Regragui is not interested in that history.

“Cameroon knocked us out in the 1988 semifinal, but the past is the past. Today we are a new Morocco,” he told his pre-match press conference.

Morocco’s fans have been far from impressed with their performances to this point, and Regragui acknowledged his side are under significant pressure.

“We also have something to lose,” he added. “We are organising the event at home, and in four months we play the World Cup. There is a big challenge ahead.

“This is the Cup of Africa for humility. If we play with modesty, we will achieve a good result. The decision will be made on the pitch.”

Cameroon boss David Pagou also dismissed the history of the fixture, and made it clear that the hosts are firm favourites.

“The past doesn’t guarantee the future,” Pagou told reporters.

“Especially in football. You can be very successful yesterday and a flop today. The matches between the two nations are a thing of the past.

“Morocco, this friendly and brotherly country, is the natural favourite. A World Cup semi-finalist. It will be a very difficult match against a very good team. We will try to challenge them.

“What characterises Cameroonians is their courage. Even when there’s a mountain to overcome. It’s the mental strength that makes the difference.

“We are proud to be here. We are focused. Morocco is at the top; they are a formidable team. The challenge will not be easy, but we are ready to take it on. My players are young and want to make their mark on football history. Let’s be patient with them.

“It’s a quarter-final against the host country, which has very strong individual players and a high-performing team. Morocco hasn’t lost at home for a very long time. That’s an extra motivation. It will be a mental battle.”

Morocco will be better prepared to outmanoeuvre us. We’re in our own bubble, and all our players are young. They weren’t even born in 1988. 

“Morocco has some truly great footballers; the 2025 African Player of the Year was Achraf Hakimi. The stadium will be full, but we’ll hear the Cameroonians’ chants more.”

Team News for Cameroon v Morocco

Left-back Darlin Yongwa is a doubt for Cameroon with an injury he sustained against South Africa.

For Morocco, midfielder Azzedine Ounahi is out for the rest of the tournament with a leg injury.

Predicted line-ups for Cameroon v Morocco

Cameroon: Epassy; Kotto, Tolo, Malone; Nagida, Namaso, Baleba, Ebong, Tchamadeu; Mbeumo, Kofane.

Morocco: Bounou; Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui; El Khannouss, Al Aynaoui, Saibari; Diaz, Ezzalzouli, El Kaabi.

How to watch Cameroon v Morocco

Cameroon v Morocco kicks off at 7:00pm UK time on Friday. It will be broadcast in the UK on 4Seven.

Stats for Cameroon v Morocco

• Cameroon and Morocco have met 13 times across all competitions since their first clash in 1981.
• The Indomitable Lions have won six of those matches, with the Atlas Lions claiming two victories. Five games ended in a draw.
• They have faced each other four times in the Africa Cup of Nations, with the Indomitable Lions winning three times (D1).
• Brahim Diaz is the top scorer at this AFCON, finding the net four times for the hosts.
• Morocco have kept three clean sheets in this tournament, conceding just once. They have yet to concede from open play.
• Cameroon have lost just twice since their last-16 exit at the 2023 AFCON, though those defeats to Cape Verde and DR Congo prevented them from qualifying for the World Cup.
• Similarly, Morocco have only suffered one defeat since they lost in the round of 16 in 2023 AFCON. That came against Kenya in the 2024 African Nations Championship, a tournament they won.

Prediction

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