The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-finals delivered high drama and decisive outcomes on Friday, as Senegal and host nation Morocco booked their places in the tournament’s semi-finals. Both encounters were defined by disciplined tactical displays and pivotal individual moments that ultimately separated the winners from the rest.

In Tangiers, Senegal edged past a resilient 10-man Mali with a narrow 1–0 victory, underlining their consistency on the continental stage. Iliman Ndiaye, recalled to the starting lineup, scored the decisive goal in the 27th minute following a costly error by Mali goalkeeper Djigui Diarra. The keeper allowed a cross from Krepin Diarra to slip beneath his body, gifting Ndiaye a simple tap-in.

Mali’s task became significantly more difficult just before halftime when captain Yves Bissouma was shown a second yellow card for a foul on Idrissa Gana Gueye, reducing his side to 10 men for the entire second half. Despite Diarra producing a series of fine saves to keep the scoreline respectable, Mali were unable to find an equaliser. Senegal managed the remainder of the match with composure and maturity, sealing their third semi-final appearance in the last four AFCON editions.

Ndiaye, the 25-year-old Everton forward, was named Player of the Match and praised the collective effort. “I am happy to have won the player of the match award, but the most important thing is that we have progressed to the semi-finals,” he said. Senegal head coach Pape Thiaw acknowledged the challenge posed by their opponents, noting, “It was not an easy match against a talented Mali team. Had we been more clinical in front of goal, we could have scored more.” Mali coach Tom Saintfiet, meanwhile, expressed pride in his team’s performance despite the setback, admitting, “It was a difficult match for us because we had to play half of it with 10 men.”

In Rabat, tournament hosts Morocco kept their title ambitions alive with a convincing 2–0 victory over five-time champions Cameroon, played in front of more than 64,000 passionate supporters at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Real Madrid winger Brahim Diaz continued his impressive AFCON campaign, scoring his fifth goal in five matches. Diaz applied the finishing touch to Ayoub El Kaabi’s 26th-minute header, settling early nerves inside the packed stadium.

Ismael Saibari sealed the win in the 74th minute, calmly firing home after controlling Abde Ezzalzouli’s dead-ball delivery. Morocco, Africa’s top-ranked side and 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists, dominated large periods of the contest and were deserved winners. Cameroon, who had already surpassed expectations by reaching the quarter-finals following a turbulent build-up to the tournament, struggled to create clear chances. Manchester United forward Bryan Mbeumo was largely subdued, while the early injury to right wing-back Jackson Tchamadeu further disrupted their rhythm.

The victory marks Morocco’s first AFCON semi-final appearance since their defeat in the 2004 final against Tunisia. The hosts remain firmly on course to fulfil their ambition of lifting the Cup of Nations on home soil, 50 years after their last continental triumph. They will now face the winner of Saturday’s quarter-final clash between Algeria and Nigeria in what promises to be a highly anticipated semi-final.

With Senegal’s experience and Morocco’s home advantage on full display, both sides have reinforced their credentials as serious contenders, setting the stage for a compelling climax to this year’s Africa Cup of Nations.