Morocco are on a mission to win the Africa Cup of Nations in front of their own fans, but the hosts must navigate an intense wave of pressure as they prepare to face Cameroon in Friday’s quarter-final. Playing at home brings advantage, belief, and momentum, yet it also magnifies every mistake, every slow performance, and every moment that fails to match expectation. For Walid Regragui and his squad, this tournament has already reached a stage where results alone may no longer be enough to calm the mood around the team.
Anything short of lifting the trophy on January 18 will be viewed as a disappointment. That reality defines Morocco’s remaining matches and shapes the tension surrounding each performance. As Africa’s top-ranked national team, the Atlas Lions are expected to dominate, not merely survive. However, the journey so far has shown how fragile that expectation can be when performances fail to fully convince.
Morocco opened their campaign with a controlled 2-0 win over Comoros on December 21, a result that met expectations without igniting much excitement. The reaction changed sharply during the second group match, a 1-1 draw with Mali that was met with jeers from the stands. That moment exposed a growing disconnect between the supporters and the team, a dangerous scenario for any host nation chasing continental glory.
“It is not normal for them to boo us. We want to have the supporters behind us,” said captain Achraf Hakimi in a rallying cry before the final group game against Zambia.
“If the fans are behind us we can be champions of Africa together.”
A convincing 3-0 victory over Zambia helped restore some confidence, at least on the surface. The crowd responded, and the noise returned, but concerns resurfaced in the last 16. Against Tanzania, a team that had never won a Cup of Nations match, Morocco struggled to impose themselves. A single second-half goal from Brahim Diaz was enough to secure progression, yet the performance felt cautious and restrained.
Ranked 11th in the FIFA world rankings, just above Italy, Morocco arrived at this tournament carrying the weight of their historic run to the 2022 World Cup semi-finals. That achievement raised expectations beyond African borders and created the belief that this squad should dominate the continent. Instead, their AFCON displays have often lacked fluidity and cutting edge, despite the obvious quality across the pitch.
Why are Moroccan fans still unconvinced despite winning?
The frustration among supporters is rooted in contrast. This is a team packed with elite-level players who compete weekly in Europe’s top leagues. Hakimi leads from right-back with pace and authority. Diaz brings creativity from Real Madrid. Ayoub El Kaabi offers physical presence and goal threat. Depth across the squad allows Regragui to rotate without sacrificing quality, a luxury few African coaches enjoy.
Yet matches have rarely reflected that advantage. Morocco have often appeared cautious, prioritizing control over expression. For a fan base craving dominance on home soil, narrow wins feel uncomfortable rather than reassuring. That discomfort has translated into growing calls for change, including suggestions that Tarik Sektioui, coach of the recent FIFA Arab Cup-winning side, should replace Regragui with the future World Cup cycle in mind.
Regragui, however, remains unmoved. For him, substance outweighs spectacle. His record supports that view. Before the group-stage draw with Mali, Morocco were riding a world-record run of 19 consecutive victories. The coach argues that progress, not perfection, wins tournaments.
“These are the kind of matches that in the past we would have somehow lost. We got through by the backdoor, but all that matters is that we qualified,” he said after edging past Tanzania.
“I always remember because I grew up in France, that in 1998 when they won the World Cup, they needed a golden goal against Paraguay in the last 16, penalties to win in the quarter-finals, and then in the semi-finals they were losing against Croatia before their right-back (Lilian Thuram) who had never scored in his life got two goals.”
Regragui’s message is clear. Tournaments reward resilience more than flair. His immediate goal is not to impress but to end a 50-year wait for continental silverware. Morocco last lifted the Africa Cup of Nations trophy in 1976, and that history looms large over this campaign.
Achraf Hakimi’s return to full fitness after an ankle injury strengthens Morocco at a crucial moment. His leadership and energy could prove decisive as pressure intensifies. With temperatures unusually low for an AFCON, the challenge is more psychological than physical. The cold weather contrasts sharply with the heat surrounding expectations, criticism, and hope across a football-mad nation of nearly 40 million people.
Can Cameroon exploit Morocco’s pressure advantage?
While Morocco carry the weight of expectation, Cameroon approach this quarter-final with relative freedom. The Indomitable Lions, five-time African champions, arrived at the tournament written off by many observers. Their path to the last eight has already exceeded expectations, especially after a chaotic build-up.
Samuel Eto’o, president of the Cameroonian football federation, sacked coach Marc Brys shortly before the tournament, replacing him with local trainer David Pagou. Preparation time was limited, cohesion uncertain, and ambition tempered by realism. That context has shaped a relaxed mindset within the squad.
Reaching the quarter-finals already marks progress for a team eliminated in the last 16 two years ago. With little external pressure, Cameroon can focus on discipline, organization, and opportunism. That combination often proves dangerous in knockout football.
“The objective when I took over was just to do better than last time because, let’s be realistic, we didn’t have very long when we started working with the team,” Pagou said after beating South Africa in the last round.
Cameroon’s lack of expectation could become their greatest weapon. While Morocco chase perfection under the watchful eyes of their supporters, Cameroon can afford patience and pragmatism. History, pedigree, and experience all sit on their side.
As Friday’s quarter-final approaches, the contrast is clear. Morocco have talent, depth, and home support, but also carry the burden of inevitability. Cameroon arrive with less to lose and everything to gain. In tournaments like this, that balance often decides who advances and who falls short.
By Yockshard Enyendi