AFCON: Hakimi starts as Morocco advance
Sunday saw the second day of the Round of 16 at AFCON 2025, with Morocco and Cameroon both picking narrow wins. Catch up on how the stars of Ligue 1 McDonald's got on with our roundup.
Morocco 1-0 Tanzania
In a match played in a boisterous atmosphere, hosts Morocco leaned on their status as tournament favorites to edge Tanzania, 1-0. With both Achraf Hakimi (Paris Saint-Germain) and Nayef Aguerd (Olympique de Marseille) in defence, the Atlas Lions were in control from start to finish, dominating possession and finishing with 12 shots to Tanzania's four. It would take some doing for Morocco to score, though -- and they would also see a Tanzania shout for a penalty waved off before Brahim Diaz, who has been one of the tournament's form players -- scored his fourth goal for the hosts just past the hour mark. With the win, Morocco sealed their place in the quarterfinals as they look to build on the success of the 2022 World Cup before the next edition this summer.
Cameroon joins the AFCON quarter-finals 🇨🇲🙌 pic.twitter.com/4Oi4Ovxh6k
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) January 4, 2026
Cameroon 2-1 South Africa
With Morocco having advanced, they will meet the winner of the day's other match on Friday, a side that proved to be Cameroon. The Indomitable Lions started with a trio of Ligue 1 players -- Danny Namaso of Auxerre in a playmaking role, with the FC Lorient duo of Arthur Avom and Darlin Yongwa in central midfield and at left wingback respectively. South Africa largely controlled the match's first half hour, forcing 'keeper Devis Epassy -- an academy product of Stade Rennais -- into several fine saves.
It was Cameroon who would strike first, however -- Junior Tchamadeu slotted home after South Africa failed to clear a corner (33'), and gave his side the lead after a VAR review. After the break, Cameroon were again under the cosh, but would double their lead. They would once again penalize Bafana Bafana's inability to clear a corner as Stade Rennais' Mahamadou Nagida -- who had come on at the break -- delivered a delicious cross which Christian Kofane headed in across goal. South Africa would pull a goal back just before full time, but Cameroon's clinical approach saw them hold on for the win.
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