Cameroon edges South Africa 2-1 to secure AFCON quarterfinal spot against Morocco

Cameroon Advances to Africa Cup of Nations Quarterfinals with 2-1 Win Over South Africa

In a closely contested match, Cameroon edged out South Africa 2-1 in the Africa Cup of Nations last-16 round at Al Medina Stadium in Rabat on Sunday. Junior Tchamadeu scored the opening goal for Cameroon in the 34th minute, followed by Christian Kofane’s header just two minutes after halftime to give his team a 2-0 lead.

South Africa made a late push, with Evidence Makgopa scoring a consolation goal in the 88th minute. However, Cameroon held on to secure their spot in the quarterfinals and advance to face hosts Morocco in the next round.

The match saw several key moments, including Relebohile Mofokeng’s missed opportunity inside seven minutes and Lyle Foster’s disallowed goal. Cameroon defender Che Malone also failed to clear a simple ball forward, allowing Mofokeng to shoot over. In contrast, Carlos Baleba’s deflected shot led to Tchamadeu’s goal.

Kofane scored his second goal of the tournament just two minutes after halftime, and Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy made several crucial saves before Makgopa’s late equalizer. The match ended with a grandstand finish, but Cameroon emerged victorious.

Earlier in the day, Morocco secured a 1-0 win over Tanzania to advance to the quarterfinals. Brahim Diaz scored the winning goal from a tight angle after being fed by captain Achraf Hakimi on the right side of the box. The match saw several missed opportunities for both teams, but Morocco’s victory kept their campaign on track.

Cameroon will now face Morocco in the quarterfinals, while South Africa will look to regroup and focus on the upcoming World Cup.

Source: Al Jazeera