Morocco ‘looking to make history’ after reaching AFCON semi-finals, states Regragui
Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui expressed that his team is “looking to make history” following their advancement to the semi-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations for the first time since 2004. The hosts clinched their spot in the final four with a 2-0 victory over Cameroon, where Brahim Diaz scored once again before Ismael Saimari sealed the match in the latter half.
During their last semi-final appearance 12 years ago, Morocco faced a defeat against Tunisia in the final, with their sole AFCON title achieved in 1976. So far, Morocco has won four out of their five matches in the tournament (D1), setting their joint-highest record in a single AFCON edition (also in 2004 and 1976).
The Atlas Lions are set to compete against either Algeria or Nigeria in the semi-finals, and Regragui holds strong ambitions for the remainder of the tournament. “I want to express my gratitude to the players and the supporters,” he remarked. “It genuinely felt as if we had 12 players on the field.
“Reaching the semi-finals is well deserved, and the players earned this achievement. Our players gave their all, and when they stay focused, everything falls into place. I’m very pleased with their performance.
“We must stay grounded because every team is eager to defeat us, and we need to show respect for all our rivals. Since 2004, Morocco has not reached the semi-finals, and now we are looking to make history.”
Published: 2026-01-09 23:29:00
source: www.soccernews.com
For Cameroon, it marked a disappointing conclusion to AFCON, having lost two out of their last three knockout encounters in the tournament (W1), which is equal to the number of losses in their previous nine matches (W4 D3). They managed only five shots throughout the game, none of which challenged Yassine Bounou, resulting in a mere 0.4 expected goals (xG).
Cameroon has also conceded at least one goal in each of their last four knockout matches at AFCON, totaling eight goals, which is their longest such streak in the tournament’s history. Nevertheless, head coach David Pagou remains hopeful for the team’s future, believing there are positive aspects to take forward.
“I am proud of my players. We put up a strong fight against Morocco, and we exit the tournament with our heads held high,” he stated. “We encountered some challenges, but we regrouped well in the second half. The second goal we conceded ultimately shaped the outcome of the match.
“Overall, I am pleased with our performance. Our squad is young and relatively new, and the players deserve recognition for their hard work for the Cameroonian people.
“The future looks bright for our young talents, many of whom are experiencing continental competition for the first time. We have gained valuable lessons and leave the tournament with plenty of positives.”
