MENA Sports Wrap: Heavyweights Morocco and Egypt make AFCON semifinals

The Africa Cup of Nations is heating up as the final four take shape, with hosts Morocco continuing their dream run on home soil and heavyweight clashes delivering drama, goals, and major upsets.

From Rabat to Marrakech, the quarterfinals showcased both composure and collapse, as tournament favourites asserted themselves while former champions were sent packing.

With Morocco surging forward, Nigeria flexing their attacking power, and Egypt grinding out another statement win, the stage is now set for two blockbuster semifinals that promise intensity, history, and no shortage of star power.

Host nation Morocco sails to semifinal as Diaz continues to shine

Host nation Morocco is inching closer to possibly winning the Africa Cup of Nations on home soil after beating Cameroon on Friday to book their place in the semifinals - their first since 2004.

The Atlas Lions put two goals past the Indomitable Lions' net, thanks to Brahim Diaz and Ismail Saibari.

Diaz's goal marked his fifth of the tournament so far, making him AFCON's current top scorer, ahead of the likes of Victor Osimhen and Mohamed Salah.

Expectations were high for Morocco to make it past Cameroon and to reach the last four, as many hope that the Atlas Lions, currently ranked 11th globally, can bring home the trophy after a 50-year absence. 

The hosts took the lead in the 26th minute after Diaz nudged in a header from Ayoub El Kaabi, bringing relief to the 64,000 fans at Rabat’s Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah. Saibari, who is enjoying Dutch league success with PSV Eindhoven, doubled Morocco's lead to make it 2-0 in the 74th minute.

Cameroon created a few chances and had two potential penalty appeals waved away by the referee.

Fans hailed Friday night's victory as Morocco's best performance of the tournament so far, describing the team as finally coming into their own and playing similarly to how they performed nearly four years ago at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Despite not conceding any goals in open play and not losing any games, Morocco's style of football has been described as tense - likely due to the immense expectations that no doubt weigh heavily on their shoulders as hosts and favourites.

Egypt nudge past Ivory Coast for semifinal slot, Algeria tumble against Nigeria

AFCON's last quarterfinal bouts took place on Saturday, which included the region's teams of Algeria and Egypt aiming to book a place in the final four.

Marrakech was the host for the Nigeria-Algeria showdown, with the Super Eagles considered favourites ahead of the game, and they have averaged three goals per match so far. Algeria, packed with both reliable and young talent in Riyad Mahrez and Ibrahim Maza, went into the game as one of AFCON’s standout teams and as the 2019 champions.

Nigeria, however, proved too strong for the Fennec Foxes. Galatasaray star Victor Osimhen and Sevilla's Akor Adams ended Algeria's hopes with two goals in each half, showcasing one of the tournament's best performances so far.

Nigeria were the more attacking team, dominating the cagey Algerians who failed to create many chances or push forward into their opponent's half.

Despite an impressive performance from Luca Zidane at this year's AFCON, with him keeping four consecutive clean sheets in the tournament, the goalkeeper's bizarre mistake during the Osimhen goal build-up has cast doubts over his selection as Algeria's number one choice for goalkeeper, with the Fennec Foxes headed to the World Cup in six months time.

Nigeria, which has reached the last four 17 times in the last 20 Africa Cup of Nations they have qualified for, will take on Morocco in Rabat in a highly anticipated semifinal on Wednesday.

Later on Saturday, Egypt and the Ivory Coast faced each other in a thrilling quarterfinal game that saw the Pharaohs end Ivorian hopes of defending their title, winning the game narrowly 3-2.

A goal from Manchester City's Omar Marmoush opened the score line for Egypt early in the game, with defender Rami Rabia and talisman Mohamed Salah also featuring on Egypt's score sheet.

The Pharaohs had much less possession than their Ivorian opponents, but took advantage of the fewer chances they had to end the game in their favour.

An own goal from Ahmed Fatouh and a late strike by Guela Doue were not enough for the Ivory Coast to stay in the game, two years after winning the Africa Cup of Nations two years ago.

Marmoush gave Egypt an early lead just four minutes in, sprinting into the Ivorian half after receiving Emam Ashour's pass, tussling with the defence to make it past them.

Just over the half an hour mark, Rami Rabia rose above the Ivorian defence to head the goal in, extending Egypt's lead.

The Elephants, with 70 percent of the possession, managed to pull a goal back when Yann Diomande's free kick ricocheted off defender Ahmed Fatouh.

An excellent 52nd-minute goal by Mo Salah, Egypt's emblematic captain, more or less guaranteed the country's place in the semifinal. The Ivory Coast managed to head home a second goal in the 73rd minute, but it proved too little too late for a comeback.

The Pharaohs, who have won AFCON a record seven times, will face heavyweights Senegal on Wednesday for a place in the final, and will see Salah play his old Liverpool teammate, Sadio Mane.