Rabat, Jan 5: Brahim Díaz kept Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations title hopes on track while five-time winner Cameroon beat South Africa 2-1 for a showdown with the host nation in the quarterfinals.
Díaz sent Morocco through with a 1-0 win over Tanzania on Sunday before Cameroon held on to beat South Africa for the first time since 1992 thanks to goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane. They meet in the next round on Friday.
“The Morocco game is far away for us,” Cameroon coach David Pagou said. “We suffered today, even if we won.”
South Africa was left to rue a host of missed chances early on when Cameroon’s defenders looked as though they were playing together for the first time.The Bafana Bafana had two extra days to prepare for their last 16 game, while Cameroon’s last group game was Wednesday.
An injury to Cameroon’s Darlin Yongwa allowed both teams to re-adjust before play resumed.
Cameroon improved, supported by most fans in the cozy 18,000-capacity Stade Al Barid.There was a huge roar when TV cameras picked up Samuel Eto’o, the former Cameroon forward who’s now president of the country’s soccer federation, while boos rang out whenever South Africa coach Hugo Broos was shown on the big screen, apparently for his comments about the lack of an “AFCON vibe” in Morocco. (AP)
