AFCON 2025: Cameroon Vs Morocco – A Clash Forged In History
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
Historical Rivalry Focus
WHEN the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon take on Morocco’s Atlas Lions at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Friday, Africa will witness the rekindling of one of the continent’s most storied football rivalries. This is not just a quarter-final—it is a collision of history, pride, and destiny.
Cameroon and Morocco have crossed paths at AFCON finals only four times, with the Central Africans unbeaten against Morocco at the continental showpiece. Their first meeting in 1986 remains iconic: Abdelkrim Krimau’s early strike for Morocco was cancelled out by Roger Milla’s 89th-minute equaliser, a moment that still echoes in African football folklore. In 1988, Cyril Makanaky silenced the Casablanca crowd with a semi-final winner for Cameroon, and in 1992 André Kana-Biyik delivered another decisive blow in the group stages.
Between 1981 and 2017, Cameroon dominated, remaining unbeaten in 13 encounters and winning six. Morocco, however, have reversed the trend in recent years, claiming victories in the last two clashes, including a 4-0 CHAN 2020 semi-final rout. As the quarter-final approaches, the historical narrative adds layers of pressure and expectation, with Cameroon chasing their 11th AFCON semi-final and Morocco aiming to reach this stage for the first time since 2004.
Cameroon’s resilience against hosts, with six wins and five draws in 13 matches, underscores their knockout pedigree. Morocco, meanwhile, have relied on possession dominance and attacking flair, spearheaded by Brahim Diaz, whose four goals this tournament are a national record. Friday’s encounter promises a night where legacy meets the present—a defining chapter in African football history.
