The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations officially determined its first two semi-finalists as Senegal and host nation Morocco navigated through their intense quarter-final matchups on Friday. The Teranga Lions secured their passage to the final four by edging out Mali in a disciplined 1-0 encounter at the Tangier Grand Stadium.
Everton forward Iliman Ndiaye provided the decisive moment in the first half, capitalising on a defensive lapse to fire his side ahead. Senegal’s defensive unit subsequently repelled wave after wave of Malian attacks, maintaining their narrow lead until the final whistle to keep their pursuit of a second continental title alive.
Morocco followed suit later in the evening, delivering a commanding performance to eliminate the Indomitable Lions of Cameroon with a 2-0 victory in Rabat. The Atlas Lions ignited the home crowd at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium when tournament top scorer Brahim Diaz netted his fifth goal of the competition in the 26th minute. Ismael Saibari effectively ended Cameroonian resistance in the second half, drilling a powerful strike into the far corner to ensure the hosts reached the semi-finals for the first time in twenty-two years. The result underscores Morocco’s status as a tournament favorite as they maintain an impressive defensive record of having not yet conceded a goal from open play.
The bracket for the penultimate stage now presents a clear path for the remaining contenders. Senegal awaits the winner of the blockbuster clash between Egypt and the defending champions, Ivory Coast, which takes place later tonight. Meanwhile, Morocco prepares to face the survivor of the highly anticipated North-South rivalry between Nigeria and Algeria. These upcoming fixtures will complete the semi-final lineup, setting the stage for two monumental battles on Wednesday, January 14, as the continent’s elite teams vie for a spot in the grand finale in Casablanca.
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