Cameroon 0-2 Morocco Player Ratings: Hakimi Leads the Charge as Atlas Lions Seal AFCON Semi-Final Place

It was a dominant display by the Morocco National football team in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals as Morocco cruised to a comfortable 2–0 victory over Cameroon. From the opening whistle, the Atlas Lions were in complete control, dictating the tempo of the game and keeping the Cameroon National football team on the back foot for long spells. The stakes were high, with Morocco enjoying more possession, registering significantly more shots, and pinning Cameroon deep in their own half.

The breakthrough arrived in the first half through Real Madrid forward Brahim Díaz, who reacted quickest inside the box to finish off a corner with a classic poacher’s strike. The goal was a reward for sustained pressure, as Cameroon struggled to progress the ball cleanly through midfield or create any meaningful chances, managing very little attacking threat against Morocco’s well-organised defensive shape.

The gameplay remained unchanged after the restart. The Atlas Lions continued to dominate territory and set-piece situations, eventually doubling their advantage when Ismael Saibari found the net from another well-worked dead-ball routine.

By then, the outcome felt inevitable, with Morocco limiting Cameroon to low-quality efforts and controlling the game without needing to overextend. It was a professional and clinical performance from the Atlas Lions, who now firmly stake their claim as genuine AFCON title contenders.

Cameroon, meanwhile, will have plenty of positives to take back from this contest as they depart from the tournament. Sportsdunia brings you the detailed Cameroon vs Morocco Player Ratings from this AFCON quarter-final clash.

Key Takeaways

• Morocco asserted control across the match, out-shooting Cameroon (7 total shots to 1) and creating more big chances on goal, reflecting their dominance in attack throughout all 90 minutes.

• The expected goals (xG) advantage underscores Morocco’s control, with a significantly higher xG (0.98) compared to Cameroon’s (0.18), showing that Morocco generated higher-quality scoring opportunities.

• Possession was relatively balanced but Morocco maximised their time on the ball, edging Cameroon with 53% to 47%, and this ball dominance helped them dictate play and transition into dangerous attacking positions.

Morocco Player Ratings vs Cameroon

Let's take a detailed look at the Morocco Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Yassine Bounou - 6.5: Had one of the quietest nights of his career. Cameroon offered next to nothing in terms of an attacking threat. He made one good high claim and his distribution was decent enough. We can't really give a higher rating because he was essentially a spectator for large parts of the game, which is a testament to his defence.

Defenders

Achraf Hakimi - 8.0: A captain's performance and our highest-rated player. He was a constant menace down the right flank, whipping in nine crosses and creating three key passes. His energy was infectious, and he was solid defensively too, winning most of his duels. What stood out to us was his leadership, constantly organizing the backline. An exceptional all-round display.

Noussair Mazraoui - 6.5: A slightly mixed bag from the full-back. He was solid in the tackle, winning both of his attempts. However, he was quite wasteful in possession, losing the ball 14 times. From our perspective, he looked a little off the pace at times but did his defensive duties when called upon. An average performance overall.

Nayef Aguerd - 7.5: A rock at the back. He read the game beautifully, making a staggering ten clearances. His distribution was top-notch, and he even popped up with a clever assist for the second goal. He was calm, composed, and completely nullified any threat that came his way. A very impressive performance.

Adam Masina - 7.0: A really solid and professional performance. He was excellent in his duels, winning every single one he contested. His passing was crisp and accurate, helping Morocco build from the back. He didn't offer as much going forward as Hakimi, but he provided perfect balance to the defence. You can't ask for much more from your defender.

Midfielders

Brahim Díaz - 7.0: He got the all-important opening goal, which is why his rating is this high. He was a livewire, constantly drawing fouls and trying to make things happen. However, what we noticed was his tendency to lose the ball, losing 13 of his 19 duels which is a shockingly high number. His goal was crucial, but other parts of his game were quite frustrating to watch.

Ismael Saibari - 7.5: Scored the goal that killed the game off, and it was a well-taken finish. He was tidy in possession and got both of his shots on target. He worked hard off the ball, contributing defensively when needed. It was a performance full of energy and he took his chance when it came. A great night for him.

Abde Ezzalzouli - 7.5: A fantastic performance. He was a nightmare for the Cameroon defence, successfully dribbling past players and winning a remarkable eight of his eleven duels. He was a constant threat, creating a chance and looking dangerous every time he got the ball. He just needed a goal to cap off a brilliant display.

Bilal El Khannouss - 6.5: He had a busy game in midfield. We noticed his defensive contributions, making three interceptions and a couple of clearances. However, he was a bit clumsy, committing three fouls and picking up a yellow card. He was substituted after a decent but unspectacular shift. A solid cog in the machine.

Neil El Aynaoui - 7.0: The enforcer in midfield. He was absolutely dominant in the air, winning five of his six aerial duels. He did the dirty work that allowed the more creative players to shine. His job was to break up play, and he did it effectively. Not the most glamorous performance, but an incredibly important one for the team's structure.

Forwards

Ayoub El Kaabi - 7.0: Led the line well before being substituted. He provided a key assist and created another big chance. His hold-up play was effective in bringing midfielders into the game. The only downside was his discipline, committing six fouls which is far too many. A good contribution overall, but he needs to be smarter.

Substitutes

Youssef En-Nesyri - 6.0: Came on for the final 20 minutes or so to give El Kaabi a rest. Didn't have much time to make an impact but worked hard.

Sofyan Amrabat - 6.0: Brought on to shore up the midfield and see the game out. He did his job with minimal fuss as Morocco cruised to victory.

Manager

W. Regragui - 8.0: His tactics were spot on. Morocco looked organized, dominant, and clinical. He set his team up to control the game and they executed his plan perfectly. His substitutions were sensible, managing the game well in the second half. A flawless night for the manager.

Cameroon Player Ratings vs Morocco

Let's delve deep into the Cameroon Player Ratings.

Goalkeeper

Devis Epassy - 5.0: A difficult night for the keeper. He only made one save and conceded two goals. He didn't look particularly convincing for either goal, although his defence left him exposed. From our perspective, he could have done better. A day to forget.

Defenders

Che Malone - 6.0: He was one of the few Cameroon players to come out with any credit. He battled hard, winning seven of his twelve duels and making some important defensive actions. However, he was still part of a defence that was easily carved open on two occasions. He tried his best in a losing battle.

Nouhou - 5.5: He had a high pass completion rate, but it was mostly safe, sideways passes. Defensively, he struggled against the movement of Morocco's attackers and picked up a needless yellow card. He was part of a backline that looked all at sea. Not his finest hour.

Samuel Kotto - 5.5: Similar to his defensive partners, he saw a lot of the ball but struggled to cope with Morocco's pressure. He lost possession eleven times and looked uncomfortable throughout. The defensive unit as a whole was poor, and he was no exception.

Midfielders

Junior Tchamadeu - N/A: His game was cruelly cut short by an injury in the first half. It's impossible to give him a fair rating based on just 24 minutes of action.

Arthur Avom - 6.5: He was one of Cameroon's better players. He worked tirelessly, drawing four fouls and showing some fight in midfield. His passing was neat, and he tried to get his team moving forward. It was a difficult night, but he can hold his head relatively high. He didn't give up.

Mahamadou Nagida - 6.0: A very chaotic and energetic performance. He won an impressive nine duels and recovered the ball seven times. However, the flip side is that he lost possession fifteen times. He was everywhere, for better and for worse. A mixed performance that summed up Cameroon's frantic and disorganized play.

Carlos Baleba - 5.0: A very anonymous performance. He was on the pitch for 77 minutes but had very little impact on the game. He struggled to get involved, both defensively and offensively. He was a passenger for large periods before being substituted. We expected a lot more from him.

Forwards

Bryan Mbeumo - 4.5: A really poor and ineffective performance. We were so disappointed. He lost ten of his twelve duels, which is simply not good enough for a forward at this level. He lost the ball constantly and offered no threat whatsoever. A very frustrating night for him and arguably the worst performer on the pitch.

Danny Namaso - 5.0: He worked hard and drew a few fouls, but his overall contribution was minimal. He struggled to hold onto the ball and his passing was wayward. He was isolated for large parts of the game and couldn't make any impact before being taken off. A tough night at the office.

Christian Kofane - 4.0: A disastrous performance. He committed a staggering six fouls and won only one of his eleven duels. He offered absolutely nothing in attack and was a liability defensively. It was no surprise to see him substituted. A truly awful display.

Substitutes

Junior Dina Ebimbe - 5.5: Came on for the injured Tchamadeu but couldn't influence the game.

Koudou - 5.5: Replaced Dina Ebimbe and missed a decent headed chance from a corner.

Karl Etta Eyong - 5.0: Brought on, but the game was already lost.

Jean Onana - 5.0: Had little time to change anything.

Frank Magri - 5.0: An anonymous cameo appearance.

Manager

D. Pagou - 4.5: His team was completely outclassed and out-thought. They had no answer to Morocco's system. The team looked disorganized, lacked a clear game plan, and showed no attacking threat. While the early injury didn't help, the overall performance and setup were simply not good enough for a quarter-final.

Man of the Match

Sportsdunia's player of the match goes to Achraf Hakimi.

Worst Performer

Bryan Mbeumo was the worst performer in the Cameroon vs Morocco clash.