Cameroon booked their place in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over South Africa on Sunday, with goals either side of half-time proving decisive in Rabat.
Junior Tchamadeu gave the Indomitable Lions the lead in the 34th minute at Al Medina Stadium, before teenage Bayer Leverkusen forward Christian Kofane doubled the advantage just two minutes after the restart with a well-taken header.
South Africa mounted a late push and were rewarded when Evidence Makgopa pulled one back, but Cameroon held on to end Bafana Bafana’s campaign.
The five-time African champions will now face tournament hosts Morocco in a blockbuster quarter-final on Friday. Cameroon head into the clash with confidence, while Morocco will shoulder the weight of expectation as they chase a first AFCON title in 50 years in front of their home fans.
Reaching the last eight already represents a major achievement for Cameroon, whose tournament preparations were overshadowed by turmoil. Football federation president and national icon Samuel Eto’o dismissed coach Marc Brys shortly before the competition and appointed David Pagou as his replacement.
Pagou’s side outmanoeuvred South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who had vowed to show no mercy to Cameroon, nine years after guiding them to continental glory in Gabon.
For South Africa, the exit is a bitter disappointment after finishing third at the previous AFCON in Ivory Coast. However, they can now shift focus to their World Cup ambitions.
Bafana Bafana had early chances to take control of the match. Relebohile Mofokeng missed a golden opportunity inside seven minutes after Cameroon defender Che Malone failed to deal with a straightforward ball forward, while Lyle Foster later saw a goal ruled out for offside.
Cameroon capitalised on their moments. After a corner was only partially cleared, Carlos Baleba’s effort was deflected into the path of Tchamadeu, who calmly rolled the ball home from close range. The goal stood after a lengthy VAR review and sparked celebrations among the Cameroonian supporters, with Eto’o watching on from the stands.
South Africa hoped for a brighter start to the second half, but Cameroon struck again almost immediately. Mahamadou Nagida delivered a cross from the left, and Kofane rose to head in his second goal of the tournament.
Goalkeeper Devis Epassy was then called into action, producing important saves to deny Samukele Kabini and a Teboho Mokoena free-kick. Makgopa’s late finish in the 88th minute set up a tense finale, but Cameroon defended resolutely to see the game out.
What you should know
Cameroon’s victory highlights their resilience amid off-field instability and underlines their pedigree as one of Africa’s most successful football nations.
With young talents like Kofane stepping up and experienced figures guiding the team through pressure moments, the Indomitable Lions now face a stern test against hosts Morocco.
For South Africa, the defeat ends their AFCON journey but offers lessons as they rebuild towards future international competitions.
