Morocco’s bid to win a continental title on home soil collapsed for the second consecutive tournament on Wednesday, as Cameroon eliminated the hosts 3-1 on penalties following a goalless draw in Rabat.
The defeat marks back-to-back WAFCON heartbreaks for Morocco, who reached the final in 2022 only to fall short, and now exit at the semi-final stage in front of their own supporters. Fatima Tagnaout carried the weight of the moment in the 118th minute, stepping up to a penalty that could have sent Morocco through but she fired wide, and the miss haunted the hosts moments later in the shootout.
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Cameroon, by contrast, has stormed through this tournament with growing conviction. The Indomitable Lionesses eliminated defending champions Nigeria in the previous round before shutting down Morocco’s attack for 120 minutes at Moulay El Hassan Stadium.
Coach Jorge Vilda threw fresh legs at the game after the break, introducing Tagnaout among other changes to chase a breakthrough, but Cameroon’s defense held firm and forced the tie into extra time, then penalties.
The shootout swung Cameroon’s way early and never let go. Marie Ngah converted first, and although Grace Mendoua missed Cameroon’s second attempt, Morocco couldn’t capitalize Kenza Chapelle also missed. Rose Bella restored Cameroon’s lead, Meryem Atiq failed to answer for Morocco, and Myriam Nyadjou made it 3-1 in Cameroon’s favor.
Sakina Ouzraoui needed to score to keep the hosts alive; she couldn’t, and Cameroon booked their fourth WAFCON final appearance.
The win carries extra significance for Cameroon, who had lost their previous three WAFCON shootouts, including a painful 2018 semi-final exit against Nigeria. This time, they held their nerve when it mattered most.
For Morocco, the loss ends a run that had included shootout wins over Nigeria in 2022 and Ghana in 2024 a pattern that finally broke against Cameroon.
It’s a bitter result for a team that had built genuine hope of lifting the trophy at home, and it raises fresh questions about how Morocco channels this disappointment heading into future tournaments.
Cameroon, meanwhile, now stands one win away from continental glory, carrying the momentum of having knocked out both the defending champions and the tournament hosts on the road to Sunday’s final.
