CAN 2025: Walid Regragui Celebrates a Historic Victory, Calls for Staying Grounded
Morocco’s Historic Victory Over Cameroon in AFCON Quarterfinals
Morocco’s triumph over Cameroon (2-0) on Friday night in the quarterfinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is labeled as “historic” by national coach Walid Regragui. He urged his team to stay grounded despite their advancement to the semifinals.
“It has been 22 years since Morocco last reached the final four. This victory is well-deserved, but another historic match awaits us in the semifinals,” Regragui stated during the post-match press conference held at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
The national coach praised the quality of the Cameroonian team, noting that they will certainly have a significant impact in the years to come.
Furthermore, Regragui highlighted the crucial role of the fans, saying, “We played as if we were twelve, and we delivered our best first half since the 2022 World Cup. The match balanced out in the second period, especially when the Cameroonians tried to make a comeback.”
He expressed that the national team performed “like a great team,” asserting that Morocco is now “where it needs to be.”
“We are two matches away from the title, but we have achieved nothing yet. We must take it match by match. We want to make history,” he emphasized.
Regarding their upcoming opponent in the semifinals, Regragui expressed confidence in his players’ ability to meet the new challenge.
“If Algeria qualifies, it will be a historic derby. If it’s Nigeria, it will be a completely different style of play. We have no preferences,” he assured.
On his part, Ismael Saibari, named Man of the Match, described the encounter as “very intense,” noting that “the players felt good and delivered a solid performance.”
“Defensively, we were prepared and managed to capitalize on the chances we created,” he stated, affirming that the national team will do everything possible to clinch the title.
“We are now focused on the semifinals and will work diligently to reach the final,” he added.
The Moroccan team secured its place in the semifinals of AFCON 2025 through a 2-0 victory over Cameroon, with goals scored by Brahim Diaz in the 26th minute and Ismael Saibari in the 74th minute.
