Africa

30, April 2026

CAF and UEFA sign MoU aimed at strengthening collaboration ⁰

The Confédération Africaine de Football (“CAF”) President Dr Patrice Motsepe and the Union of European Football Associations (“UEFA”) President Mr Aleksander Čeferin have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (“MoU”) aimed at strengthening collaboration, growth and development of football across Europe and Africa.

The MoU, signed in Vancouver, Canada, underlines the guiding principles shared by CAF and UEFA, highlighting football’s role in promoting inclusion, participation and social cohesion, while reaffirming a joint commitment to solidarity, integrity and openness.

CAF President Dr Patrice Motsepe said: “African Football has experienced significant growth over the past few years and we continue to build towards making it among the best in the world. By signing the Memorandum of Understanding with UEFA, we are strengthening our historic ties and friendship between Africa and Europe that has seen some of the best African players succeeding in European Leagues. This partnership with UEFA includes youth and women’s football, development, the education and training of coaches and referees, the enhancement of governance and institutional development. It also< reflects CAF and UEFA’s shared vision of using football as a tool to bring together and unite the people of our two Continents. By combining our expertise and resources, CAF and UEFA will ensure that football continues to be a source of hope, joy and unity for millions of people worldwide.”

UEFA President Mr Aleksander Čeferin said: “Europe and Africa are home to extraordinary football landscapes, where the game plays a vital role both on the pitch and within society. This Memorandum of Understanding reflects our shared commitment to expanding opportunities for boys and girls in youth football, while harnessing the power of the game to advance women’s football and promote women’s health and wellbeing. By working closely with CAF, we aim to invest in people, share expertise and strengthen football’s positive and lasting impact on communities across both continents.”

The MoU, which runs until 30 June 2031, will combine expertise and experience across several strategic areas, including:

Youth and women’s football: CAF Member Associations will participate in selected CAF-UEFA Youth Competitions alongside opportunities for reciprocal involvement in initiatives such as the CAF African Schools Football Championship.
Football development programmes: Implementation of initiatives supporting tailored, long‑term projects and partnerships between European and African Member Associations.
Coach education: Focusing on the sharing of technical know‑how, best practice and collaborative learning activities to strengthen and align coaching structures across both Confederations.
Refereeing: Opportunities for match officials and referee instructors for knowledge exchange.
Exchange of expertise and institutional knowledge: Including observer programmes at major club and national team tournaments, as well as contributions to conferences and professional events organised by both Confederations.
Education and capacity development: With access to selected programmes, joint work on education pathways and cooperation on football medicine through the development of dedicated training frameworks.
Governance and coordination: Featuring regular meetings and progress reviews to ensure alignment on priorities and effective delivery of agreed activities.

This MoU reaffirms CAF and UEFA’s shared conviction that football can act as a driver for opportunity, education and positive social impact across Europe and Africa, while providing a basis for CAF and UEFA to develop additional joint initiatives over time.

Culled from CAF

6, April 2026

Congo’s World Cup extended celebration triggers growing tensions in Spain ⁰

Three Spanish clubs have formally lodged complaint with La Liga against the DR Congo national team after several players failed to return on time following the country’s qualification for FIFA World Cup.

Real Betis, Espanyol and Elche jointly submitted the complaint to La Liga which is expected to escalate the matter to the Spanish Football Federation and inform as tensions grow over what clubs see as a breach of international regulations.

Players absent days after qualification

DR Congo secured their place at the 2026 World Cup — set to take place in June across the United States, Canada and Mexico — marking their first appearance in the tournament in more than five decades.

However, the celebrations that followed have created friction.

Several Congolese internationals, including Cédric Bakambu (Real Betis), Yannick Bolasie Dianagana (Elche), and Leandro Bikél (Espanyol), have yet to return to their clubs days after qualification. All three players have already missed official matches, raising concerns among their teams.

According to reports, the Congolese Football Federation kept the squad in the country to take part in extended celebrations, delaying their release.

He added that the case has now been referred to FIFA’s disciplinary bodies warning that such actions could set a dangerous precedent.

“An unusual situation” says Espanyol coach

Espanyol manager Manolo González also expressed frustration ahead of his side’s recent fixture against Real Betis.

Source: Foot Africa

19, March 2026

2025 Africa Cup of Nations: Patrice Motsepe should go and go now! ⁰

Corruption in all walks of life across Africa is well documented. But even by African standards, the decision by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to retroactively award the 2025 AFCON title to Morocco, more than 60 days after Senegal won the final 1:0 is not merely controversial, it is absurd. CAF’s statement, invoking Articles 82 and 84, declared Senegal to have forfeited the final, converting a completed match into a 3: 0 victory for Morocco. What makes the decision indefensible is that the match was played to completion, overseen by match officials, and accepted at full-time with CAF and FIFA official presenting the medals and trophy to the players and teams. One cannot have it both ways; a game cannot be fully played and retrospectively forfeited.

AFCON 2025, hosted in Morocco was clouded with controversy. Throughout the competition, particularly in matches involving the host nation, there were persistent complaints about questionable refereeing and inconsistent VAR interventions. Supporters of Cameroon and Nigeria pointed to ignored penalty appeals and un-reviewed fouls by VAR during their games against Morocco in the quarter and semi-finals respectively. Cameroon and Nigeria fans were aggrieved, but accepted the oldest principle in football, that when the referee blows the final whistle, the result stands.

Had Articles 82 and 84 been applied on that day and Morocco declared winner there and then, there would have been outrage, certainly in many parts of the football world, but also closure. Instead, CAF failed to act in real time, only to resurrect its rulebook in a dark committee room weeks later in a move that is incoherent and institutionally damaging. The result is not justice, but confusion and accusations of corruption. This decision has the potential to break CAF up as an organization. There are many in sub-Saharan Africa who already believe that Morocco and the North African nations are using their financial resources to create their own rules in CAF and this is unacceptable.

As explained by Osasu Obayiuwana on Talksport Radio in the UK, rules must be applied prospectively, not retrospectively. If an authority fails to enforce a rule at the relevant moment, it cannot later invoke it to alter an outcome, unless fraud or fundamental illegality is proven. No such finding has been established here. This is not the correction of injustice; it is the creation of it by denying Senegal their victory. If matches completed under a referee’s authority can be rewritten in backrooms, then the referee ceases to be an arbiter. He becomes a temporary facilitator whose decisions are provisional and negotiable.

If Senegal forfeited the match, why was it allowed to continue after the seventeen minutes delay? Even within football circles, the reaction has been scathing. A member of the Cameroon Football Federation (FECAFOOT) described the decision as “unacceptable and disgraceful to African football.” There are the whispers that officials empowered to influence outcomes may have taken their rewards but failed to deliver. This has led to awkward conversations between the parties involved in the scheme. Many say this ruling is less about law and more about settling accounts by the parties. Whether true or not, CAF has once again created the conditions in which such suspicions of corruption thrive.

Senegal’s government has called the ruling as “unprecedented and exceptionally serious,” and called for an independent international investigation into suspected corruption within CAF. They have rightly signaled their intention to appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. There is hope within lovers of African football and justice that the original result will be restored. But even if it is, the damage has already been done. Because in football, the final whistle is supposed to end the argument. In African football, it has just started one.

African football has never lacked brilliance. From George Weah to Didier Drogba, from Roger Milla to Samuel Eto’o, the continent has produced generations of extraordinary talent. What it has too often lacked is institutional credibility. Decisions like this erode the very foundations of trust upon which the beautiful game in Africa depends. For the credibility of the game, many now argue that Patrice Motsepe must take responsibility for this mess and resign immediately.

By Isong Asu

Cameroon Concord London Bureau Chief

18, March 2026

Mafia: Morocco awarded Afcon title after CAF overturns result ⁰

Morocco have been declared the winners of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) overturned the result of the final following Senegal’s controversial walk-off.

Senegal beat Morocco 1-0 in the final on 18 January in a match which was overshadowed when the Senegalese players refused to play after the hosts were awarded a stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.

Following a delay of around 17 minutes, the players did eventually return and Brahim Diaz’s penalty was saved before Senegal’s Pape Gueye scored an extra-time winner.

However, that result has now been overturned after a decision by an appeal board at African football’s governing body.

A statement from Caf said that Senegal are “declared to have forfeited the final match” with the “result of the match being recorded as 3-0 in favour” of Morocco.

The Senegalese Football Federation said it would appeal Caf’s decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport, calling it “unfair, unprecedented and unacceptable”.

The decision follows an appeal by Moroccan FA (FRMF) which Caf said is “declared admissible in form” and was upheld.

Caf added that “through the conduct of its team” Senegal infringed on Article 82 of regulations of the Africa Cup of Nations and as a result Article 84 became applicable.

Article 82 states that if a team refuses to play or leaves the ground before the end of regulation time without the referee’s authorisation, it will be considered the loser and eliminated from the competition.

Article 84 complements this provision, stating that any team that violates Articles 82 will be permanently eliminated and will lose the match 3-0.

A statement from FRMF said that their decision to appeal the final result was “never intended to challenge the sporting performance of the teams” but was a request for the “application of the competition’s regulations”.

“The federation reaffirms its commitment to respecting the rules, ensuring clarity in the competitive framework, and maintaining stability within African competitions,” the FRMF statement added.

“It also wishes to commend all the nations that took part in this edition of the Afcon, which has been a major moment for African football.”

Earlier, a video was posted on the X account of the Senegal men’s national team, external of their players celebrating on a bus parade with the Afcon trophy and an ‘OK’ emoji.

Maher Mezahi, a North African football journalist, told BBC Radio 5 Live that the decision to overturn the result will not change the emotional impact of what unfolded on the pitch for those who witnessed it.

“We cannot erase the final 16 minutes of that match and what we saw,” he said.

“We cannot erase the feelings of seeing Senegal lift the trophy and the players going home with the medal and them having a parade.”

Instagram story posts from Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr and West Ham's El Hadji Malick Diouf — Image caption,Some of Senegal’s players reacted to the news on social media. Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr posted a series of crying laughter emojis on his Instagram stories shortly after the announcement, while West Ham’s El Hadji Malick Diouf uploaded a post-tournament celebration image captioned with “Champions, speak up!” and a photo of his medal accompanied by “How to make your party real”

What happened in the Afcon final?

With the scoreline 0-0, referee Jean Jacques Ndala gave a spot-kick in the eighth minute of added on time.

Ndala was advised by the video assistant referee (VAR) to consult the pitchside monitor and review defender El Hadji Malick Diouf’s challenge on Diaz.

Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw, still incensed by Ndala’s decision a few moments earlier to disallow a Senegal goal from Ismaila Sarr, ushered his team off the field.

Former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane stayed on the pitch and tried to encourage his Senegal team-mates to finish the game.

After a 17-minute delay, Senegal’s players did eventually return.

Real Madrid forward Diaz was trusted with the penalty, but his tame ‘Panenka’ effort was caught by Senegal keeper Edouard Mendy who barely had to move, and Ndala immediately blew his whistle for full-time.

Villarreal midfielder Gueye then scored the winning goal in the fourth minute of extra time to seal a second triumph in five years for Senegal.

In his post-match news conference, Morocco coach Walid Regragui said Senegal’s actions were “shameful” and do not “honour Africa”.

Fifa president Gianni Infantino strongly condemned the “ugly scenes” in a post on Instagram.

Thiaw, meanwhile, had his media briefing cancelled after a ruckus broke out in the press room.

But in a later post-match interview he accepted that he should not have ordered his team off the field and he had reacted “in the heat of the moment”.

Morocco subsequently parted company with head coach Walid Regragui on 5 March – four months before the World Cup finals.

Source: BBC

26, January 2026

Football: Senegalese national killed in Morocco after AFCON final ⁰

A Senegalese national has been killed in Morocco following the Africa Cup of Nations final, according to a report by Senegalese journalist Lala Rassoul, prompting shock and calls for justice within the Senegalese community.

The journalist said the victim, identified as Charles Diouf, was attacked by unknown individuals after the conclusion of the final match.

He sustained multiple stab wounds from a bladed weapon and later died from his injuries. No further details were immediately available about the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Lala Rassoul explained that the incident took place under conditions that remain unclear and are now the subject of official investigations.

The competent authorities are expected to determine how the events unfolded and to identify those responsible for the killing.

The death has cast a shadow over the aftermath of the Africa Cup of Nations final, which had drawn large crowds and intense emotions.

While celebrations and gatherings followed the match, the reported killing has shifted focus to concerns over safety and accountability.

Members of the Senegalese community expressed deep sadness and disbelief at the news.

Many have called for a thorough and transparent investigation, urging authorities to establish the facts and ensure that those involved are brought to justice.

The case has resonated widely among Senegalese supporters and expatriates, who described the incident as a devastating loss.

The journalist’s account underscored the uncertainty that continues to surround the case, noting that official findings will be crucial in clarifying what happened.

Until investigators conclude their work, questions remain about the motive for the attack and the identity of the assailants.

As the investigation proceeds, the incident has highlighted the profound impact such acts can have beyond the immediate tragedy, affecting communities already processing the emotional intensity of a major sporting event.

For many Senegalese, the focus has shifted from the outcome of the final to mourning a compatriot and seeking answers.

Authorities have yet to release further information, and no arrests have been announced.

The Senegalese community continues to await developments, emphasizing the need for clarity, justice and accountability in the wake of the reported killing.

Source: Africa Soccer

19, January 2026

‘An ambassador for African football’ – Mane is Senegal’s Afcon hero ⁰

Sadio Mane was the hero for Senegal once again, but not for the reasons you would expect.

The former Liverpool and Bayern Munich forward claimed his second Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) crown on Sunday, with the Teranga Lions beating host nation Morocco in a final filled with controversy.

In stoppage time, Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field after Morocco were awarded a penalty in the 98th minute when defender El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Brahim Diaz.

With the Senegal players back in the changing rooms, Mane was pictured entering and then ushering them back out on to the pitch, with the help of goalkeeper Edouard Mendy.

Roughly 16 minutes after the spot-kick was awarded, Diaz’s Panenka penalty was easily caught by Mendy in a nightmare moment for one of the stars of the tournament.

At 0-0 the game went to extra time. Pape Gueye rocketed in a winner and sealed a dramatic title.

Mane, who has said this will be his last Afcon, goes out as a leader – having been presented with the captain’s armband by his team-mates before the trophy was lifted.

He told African media: “Yes, it was I who convinced the team to return to the field.

“The players and the coach had decided to withdraw, and I didn’t understand that decision, but finally, I told everyone to return immediately and to play no matter the cost.”

Former Nigeria forward Daniel Amokachi told BBC World Service: “Mane went the extra mile to get his team back and it has paid off.

“What an ambassador for football he is. We know the kind of person he is off the pitch and he knows what football is all about.”

Former Morocco international Hassan Kachloul said “Africa football and world football were losing” until Mane intervened.

“What I like more than anything, the only player from the Senegalese team was Sadio Mane,” he told E4.

“That shows the great man he is. He went back to the dressing room and brought those players back. Mane was the man to bring them back on.”

Where it started for the ‘legend of Senegal’

For Mane, it all started in Bambali.

It was in south-west Senegal that he began playing football on its red earth-lined streets and sandy pitches and where, aged 13, he watched Liverpool’s famous comeback against AC Milan in the Champions League final in 2005.

Since then he has gone on to lift both that prestigious trophy and the Premier League with the Reds, as well as claiming two Afcon titles with the Teranga Lions.

Mane scored the winning penalty against Egypt in the final of the 2021 edition and described it as “the best day of my life and the best trophy of my life”.

A stadium was named after him in the city of Sedhiou, just under 20km from his hometown, following that triumph as a recognition of his achievements.

Now a two-time champion and 33 years old, Mane has capped off his Afcon career on an ultimate high.

But Gueye says the squad aim to convince Mane, who he called “a legend of Senegal”, to change his mind about this being his final Afcon and remain with the team for at least the 2027 edition in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

“We’re going to try to keep him with us a bit longer, because he still has some great years to give,” the 26-year-old Villarreal man told BBC Afrique.

“I heard what he said and we’ll see what he decides to do. But we really want him to stay with us for many more years.”

A humble and charitable man

Sadio Mane wheels away in celebration with a smile on his face as he is chased by Senegal team-mate Iliman Ndiaye. Both players wear green Senegal kits, while Egypt goalkeeper Mohamed El Shenawy, wearing purple, is seen dejected in the background standing in front of a white net — Image caption,Mane leads the way at Afcon 2025 for chances created (18), shots on target (10) and most touches in the opposition half (295)

Mane, now plying his trade in Saudi Arabia with Al-Nassr, may have a glittering trophy cabinet but he has never forgotten his roots.

He won hearts with charitable acts in Bambali by pledging money to build a hospital and school, contributing to the construction of mosques and providing funds to aid the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

He also sent 300 Liverpool shirts to his hometown before the Anfield club’s appearance in the 2018 Champions League final, which Real Madrid ultimately won 3-1.

“If Sadio comes here, he behaves very humbly, on a level with the people in Bambali,” Fode Boucar Dahaba, the president of a regional league, told BBC Sport Africa on a visit to the village a few years ago.

“He doesn’t want to stand out. The village gives all this love back to him.”

Family members describe him as someone who is “working for everybody” and a “good Muslim”.

That was evident during his time in England’s top flight, when he helped clean the toilets at a mosque in Toxteth after one Liverpool victory.

“He wanted to remain discreet and wasn’t doing it for publicity,” said Abu Usamah Al-Tahabi, the imam at Al Rahma Mosque.

“He’s not a person looking for fanfare. There’s no arrogance.”

Senegal centre-back Moussa Niakhate hailed Mane as “an incredible man” in the lead-up to the final.

“I won’t have enough time to describe what Sadio represents for African football, and more particularly for the Senegalese people,” he added.

Senegal ‘expect’ contributions from Mane

Idrissa Gana Gueye stands talking to Sadio Mane during a football match. Both players wear white shirts bearing green, yellow and red detail on the front and green shorts. Gana Gueye's shirt has the the number five on the chest while Mane's kit bears a 10 on the chest and left short leg — Image caption,Senegal midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye (left) described Mane as a “big player” whom the Teranga Lions expect to deliver

Mane has over 120 caps and is his country’s record goalscorer with 53 goals.

He has so often been the hero on the pitch in recent years, and he intends to play at the World Cup later this year, where more great memories could be made.

He had an early penalty kick saved during the first half of the 2021 Afcon final but stepped up again to decide the shootout with Egypt in Yaounde.

A little over a month later he settled their 2022 Fifa World Cup play-off against the Pharaohs in the same way – after that match also went the distance – although he ultimately missed out on the tournament in Qatar through injury.

He has mainly been a creative force at this year’s Afcon finals, but his 78th-minute strike against Egypt, who were once again on the receiving end of Mane’s magic, proved enough to send the Teranga Lions through to the final.

“That’s what we expect from him,” midfielder Idrissa Gana Gueye told the BBC World Service after his decisive intervention in Tangier on Wednesday.

“[He is] a big player and he needs to show it in big games. He showed it again.”

‘We would like to keep him for as long as possible’

Sadio Mane holds his right fist aloft in celebration as he is held aloft by Senegal team-mates after scoring a goal. Behind him in the distance a large crowd can be seen out of focus in the stands — Image caption,Mane was Senegal’s top scorer in their successful qualifying campaign for the 2026 Fifa World Cup, with give goals

Mane may have a humble demeanour and does not captain Senegal, but when he speaks his team-mates take note.

“In his pre-match speech [before playing Egypt] he motivated all of us,” Pape Gueye said.

“He had the right words to make sure we went into the match fully focused.

“He has the experience of big matches, so he also knows how to calm us down. You can see it a lot in his gestures – he tells us to stay calm, even after we score or if we concede a goal.”

Mane won the vast majority of his international caps under Aliou Cisse, who was in charge of the West Africans from 2015 to 2024, but current coach Pape Thiaw is understandably keen for his talisman to remain part of the national set-up.

“I think he made his decision in the heat of the moment and the country does not agree, and I as coach of the national team do not agree at all,” Thiaw said.

“We would like to keep him for as long as possible.”

Culled from the BBC

18, January 2026

Football: CAF president rejects accusation of FIFA influence ⁰

The Confederation of African Football could have done a better job of explaining its decision to move the Africa Cup of Nations from every two to four years but was standing by it, the organisation’s president Patrice Motsepe said on Saturday.

The decision was announced last month and drew heavy criticism, with several African football personalities alleging it was a measure forced upon Africa by FIFA, whose president Gianni Infantino had six years ago advocated that the Cup of Nations be played four-yearly rather than every two years.

Motsepe rejected the assertions of undue influence from Zurich and said they would go ahead with the Cup of Nations every four years after 2028, plus introduce an African Nations League in 2029.

“We didn’t do as good a job at CAF in preparing the ground on this Afcon every four years. We must make sure that our everyday people, who we account to, must understand what we have done is good for them,” Motsepe told a press conference on the eve of the final between Morocco and Senegal in Rabat.

“This is the right decision. We will indeed have a new competition, and it will be enormously successful. African football will be better,” he added.

“We must free ourselves as Africans and have more confidence in ourselves. It should not be about FIFA says this or UEFA says this. We can be convinced we are doing the right things, but it is important everyone on the continent is convinced we are doing the right things too. We have to educate our people on the decisions we have taken. We know that in two, three years people will see what we are talking about.”

The reason Africa has held its Cup of Nations every two years while other confederations play their championship every four years is because the tournament’s revenue used to provide around 80% of CAF’s budget.

However Motsepe said: “The revenue of the Afcon is significantly less than the revenue we have implemented for the African Nations League. We are absolutely convinced it will work.”

Source: Reuters

18, January 2026

Africa Cup of Nations: very little positive to say about the end of the game ⁰

Senegal beat Morocco to win the Africa Cup of Nations for a second time – but only after the final was overshadowed when they temporarily refused to play when the hosts were awarded a controversial stoppage-time penalty with the match goalless.

Villarreal midfielder Pape Gueye scored the only goal in the fourth minute of extra time to seal a second triumph in four years for the Lions.

The game was marred by late controversy as Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw tried to usher his team off the field when Morocco were awarded a spot-kick in the 98th minute when defender El Hadji Malick Diouf brought down Brahim Diaz.

When the players returned to the field roughly 16 minutes later, Real Madrid forward Diaz stepped up to take the penalty, but had his attempted Panenka penalty saved by Edouard Mendy.

Thiaw, 44, was irritated with referee Jean Jacques Ndala – who awarded the penalty after reviewing the incident on the VAR monitor – for ruling out a goal for his side moments earlier.

Crystal Palace forward Ismaila Sarr had bundled home from close range, but his effort was chalked off for a foul by Abdoulaye Seck on Achraf Hakimi.

Senegal goalkeeper Mendy went to the dressing room, but returned to the field after Sadio Mane encouraged his players to finish the game.

Gueye scored the only goal of the game with a stunning individual effort in the 94th minute.

Diaz, meanwhile, was substituted in extra time as Morocco missed the chance to win a first Afcon title since 1976.

‘Little positive to say, but Mane comes out of this well’

There is very little positive to say about the end of this game, but one person to come out of it well is Mane.

He was the one Senegal player who clearly did not want to walk down the tunnel and was telling his team-mates to come back out.

He also walked over to the Senegal fans after the full-time whistle, begging them to calm down.

There is now a line of armoured police in front of those fans to my left. It’s been quite violent down there on several occasions.

Source: BBC

12, January 2026

Morocco start Nigeria build-up after Cameroon win as AFCON semi nears ⁰

Morocco resumed preparations on Sunday for its Africa Cup of Nations semifinal against Nigeria, with coach Walid Regragui managing workloads as the hosts target a place in the final.

Nigeria will face Morocco on Wednesday at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with kickoff scheduled for 9 pm local time, after both sides won their quarterfinals 2 0. Morocco beat Cameroon in Rabat on Friday, while Nigeria eliminated Algeria in Marrakech on Saturday.

Moroccan media reported that Regragui split his squad into two groups, with non starters from the Cameroon match doing technical work on the pitch at the Mohammed VI Football Complex, while starters followed an indoor recovery session.

Source: MSM

7, January 2026

AFCON 2025: Tougher test awaits anxious hosts Morocco ⁰

Hosts Morocco can expect the first proper examination of their ability to go on and win the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on a feisty Cameroon in the quarter-finals at the weekend.

The top-ranked Moroccans were not stretched in the group phase of the tournament, where they finished top of the standings, nor in their last-16 clash against Tanzania on Sunday.

Yet they delivered only one convincing performance when they beat Zambia in their last of their group matches and against Cameroon in Rabat on Friday there will need to be a marked improvement if they are to advance towards the target of a first continental title in 50 years.

The home side were heavy pre-tournament favourites but have looked anxious and nervy at times, feeling the intense pressure and will be cautious of the threat that Cameroon pose. “We will try to disrupt them,” said Cameroon coach David Pagou, promising a physical battle.

The game will be one of the highlights of a blockbuster set of last-eight ties, with Algeria meeting Nigeria on Saturday and Egypt’s clash against defending champions Ivory Coast later on the same day also eagerly anticipated.

Only Senegal, who take on Mali in the first quarter-final in Tangier on Friday, are expected to ease through to the semi-finals, up against opponents who have made it to the latter stages of the tournament without winning a game.

Mali have drawn four successive matches in Morocco, advancing on post-match penalties over Tunisia in the last 16 despite being down to 10 men for most of the match. Their fighting spirit is not expected to be enough to hold out against Senegal’s attack, which has scored 10 goals at the tournament.

Algeria and Nigeria are the only teams to have won all four of their matches in Morocco and both have given strong indicators of their ability to take the title.

Ivory Coast were also in impressive form in the last 16 as they brushed aside Burkina Faso 3-0 on Tuesday and are set to reignite a Cup of Nations rivalry with Egypt, who are looking to give talisman Mohamed Salah international success to go along with his numerous achievements at club level with Liverpool.

“We’ll simply try to impose our rhythm (of play) on Egypt,” said Ivorian coach Emerse Fae.

The quarter-final winners advance to the last four to be played in Rabat and Tangier on January 14.

Source: Reuters