The Indomitable Lions of Cameroon have set up a mouth-watering Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final clash with tournament hosts Morocco after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over South Africa on Sunday, 4 January 2026.
A Victory Forged from World Cup Heartbreak
Playing at the Stade El Barida in Rabat, the five-time champions proved their resilience. Driven by the disappointment of failing to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, Cameroon showed greater determination to overcome a spirited South African side. The match delivered high drama, setting the stage for a colossal last-eight encounter with the Atlas Lions, who earlier secured their progression with a 1-0 win over Tanzania.
Match Analysis: Control, Goals, and a Nervy Finish
South Africa, known as Bafana Bafana, started brightly and could have taken an early lead. Lyle Foster headed wide from a second-minute free-kick, and Relebogile Mofokeng spurned a golden opportunity after a defensive error by Che Malone, firing over with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Cameroon soon wrestled control of the game, with Bryan Mbeumo a constant menace. The breakthrough came in the 34th minute. After a corner was cleared, Carlos Baleba's shot from the edge of the area deflected to an unmarked Junior Tchamadeu on the left, and the full-back made no mistake with a simple finish.
The Indomitable Lions doubled their advantage just two minutes after the restart. Teenage striker Christian Kofane, rising unmarked at the back post, powered home a header for his second goal of the tournament.
South Africa fought valiantly to get back into the contest. Samkelo Kabini had an effort cleared off the line on the hour mark, and Teboho Mokoena's free-kick was expertly turned around the post by Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy. At the other end, Ronwen Williams made a vital stop to deny Arthur Avom on a swift counter.
Late Consolation Sets Up Tense Finale
In a frantic finale, South Africa laid siege to the Cameroon goal. Their pressure told with just two minutes of normal time remaining, as substitute Evidence Makgopa bundled the ball over the line for a late consolation. However, Cameroon held firm through added time to secure a significant victory and a date with destiny against the host nation.
This result sets up a blockbuster Afcon quarter-final between Cameroon and Morocco, a match laden with history and high stakes, as the tournament moves towards its thrilling climax.
