Morocco head coach Walid Regragui has dismissed talk of past encounters with Cameroon, insisting history will have little bearing as the Atlas Lions face the Indomitable Lions in Friday’s 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) quarter-final.
Speaking at his pre-match press conference, Regragui acknowledged the weight of previous meetings between both sides but stressed that the current Moroccan team represents a new era with fresh ambitions.
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“Cameroon knocked us out in the 1988 semi-final, but the past is the past. Today we are a new Morocco,” Regragui said. He also pointed out that Morocco defeated Cameroon in their most recent meeting in 2018, adding that during his playing career, he never lost to the Indomitable Lions.
Regragui underlined the high stakes for both teams, noting that Cameroon are in strong form and fully aware that defeat could mean a long wait for another major opportunity.
Morocco, however, also have much at stake as tournament hosts, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America only months away.
“We also have something to lose. We are organising the competition at home, and in four months we will play the World Cup. There is a big challenge ahead,” he said.
Regragui emphasised humility as the key to success at AFCON.
“This is the Cup of Africa for humility. If we play with modesty, we will achieve a good result. The decision will be made on the pitch,” he concluded.
Historically, Morocco have never beaten Cameroon at the AFCON finals, with the head-to-head record standing at two wins for Cameroon and one draw.
The match kicks off at 8 p.m. at the Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat.
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