Brahim Díaz fires Morocco into the Africa Cup of Nations quarterfinals where Cameroon awaits

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Brahim Díaz kept Morocco's Africa Cup of Nations title hopes on track while five-time winner Cameroon beat South Africa 2-1 for a showdown with the host nation in the quarterfinals.

Díaz sent Morocco through with a 1-0 win over Tanzania on Sunday before Cameroon held on to beat South Africa for the first time since 1992 thanks to goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane. They meet in the next round on Friday.

“The Morocco game is far away for us,” Cameroon coach David Pagou said. “We suffered today, even if we won.”

South Africa was left to rue a host of missed chances early on when Cameroon’s defenders looked as though they were playing together for the first time.

The Bafana Bafana had two extra days to prepare for their last 16 game, while Cameroon’s last group game was Wednesday.

An injury to Cameroon’s Darlin Yongwa allowed both teams to re-adjust before play resumed.

Cameroon improved, supported by most fans in the cozy 18,000-capacity Stade Al Barid.

There was a huge roar when TV cameras picked up Samuel Eto’o, the former Cameroon forward who’s now president of the country’s soccer federation, while boos rang out whenever South Africa coach Hugo Broos was shown on the big screen, apparently for his comments about the lack of an “AFCON vibe” in Morocco.

Tchamadeu got the opener when he side-footed the ball inside the far post in the 34th after he was left free when South African defenders failed to clear Cameroon’s first corner.

The Indomitable Lions emerged with more bite after the break, with Aboubakar Nagida crossing for Kofane to head the second goal in the 47th.

“I don’t think Cameroon were really dangerous in the first half and we wanted to continue like this in the second half. But after the second goal it was very difficult,” Broos said. “Cameroon stayed very well as a block.”

Cameroon goalkeeper Dévis Epassy saved from Samukelo Kabini, who’d missed one of the early chances, then dived to keep out Teboho Mokoena's free kick.

Evidence Makgopa's 88th-minute strike was too late for the Bafana Bafana.

Díaz, who has quickly emerged as Morocco's star player, broke the deadlock against Tanzania in the 64th minute. He beat Hussein Masalanga at his near post when the Taifa Stars' goalkeeper probably expected a cross.

It was Díaz's fourth goal in four games and it set off celebrations of relief around Rabat’s near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where the home team will play all its games as long as it keeps winning through to the final on Jan. 18.

The Atlas Lions had dominated possession but were largely frustrated by Tanzania’s disciplined and committed defense.

Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi made his first start of the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury and played the whole game.

Senegal and Mali booked their places in the quarterfinals on Saturday.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

South Africa's Evidence Makgopa scores his side's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

South Africa's Mbekezeli Mbokazi heads the wet ball during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between South Africa and Cameroon in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Tanzania's Iddy Nado falls while chasing the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Diaz celebrates with head coach Walid Regragui after scoring the opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Diaz celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Moroccan players celebrate after teammate Brahim Abdelkader Diaz scored the opening goal during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Morocco's Brahim Abdelkader Diaz gestures during the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 soccer match between Morocco and Tanzania in Rabat, Morocco, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russia launched a “massive” missile and drone strike on Friday near the Ukrainian capital, killing one person and injuring eight, regional authorities reported, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signaled Kyiv's openness to a potential Easter truce. The holiday is celebrated on April 12 in both Ukraine and Russia.

Another person died Friday after a Russian bomb struck an apartment block in northern Ukraine, according to local officials.

“The Kyiv region is once again under a massive Russian missile and drone attack," said Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the regional military administration, in a Telegram post on Friday morning.

According to Kalashnyk, one person died and at least eight more suffered injuries as a result of strikes on three of Kyiv's satellite towns — Bucha, Fastiv and Obukhiv. About 20 animals died after a veterinary clinic was struck, Kalashnyk added.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said in a post on X that “almost half a thousand drones and cruise missiles” attacked Ukraine overnight.

“This is how Moscow responds to Ukraine’s Easter ceasefire proposals — with brutal attacks,” Sybiha said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday signaled Kyiv's continued openness to a potential truce on Easter, which falls next week according to the Julian calendar followed by Orthodox churches in Ukraine and Russia.

Zelenskyy told reporters that the proposal had been communicated to Moscow through U.S. channels. He added that the Kremlin's response remains unclear.

Zelenskyy has previously offered a ceasefire for the Easter period — but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said earlier this week that Moscow wants a lasting peace settlement, not a temporary truce.

President Vladimir Putin unilaterally declared a 30-hour ceasefire last Easter, but each side accused the other of breaking it.

One person died on Friday in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, near the Russian border, after a Russian guided aerial bomb struck a residential block in the city of Shostka, local Gov. Oleh Hryhorov reported. He said three more people were hospitalized with injuries following the strike, including a 29-year-old woman whose condition was serious.

In Russia, 192 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russia and occupied Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Friday morning.

Two people were hospitalized on Friday following a Ukrainian drone strike on the Leningrad region, over 1,100 kilometers (684 miles) from the border, regional Gov. Alexander Drozdenko reported. According to Drozdenko, the drones also set fire to an “unoccupied” building within the Morozov industrial zone.

The settlement of Morozov houses a state-owned plant that makes explosives and components for ammunition, including solid fuel used in Topol-M missile systems. The plant was put under U.S., EU and other Western sanctions following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Twelve people, including at least three Russian soldiers, were injured in a Ukrainian drone strike late Thursday on Russia’s Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, local Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov reported. Separately, he said that seven people were wounded in the region after a drone struck a commercial facility.

Four drones were downed during the night on the approach to Moscow, mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported Friday. He did not reference any casualties or damage.

In this image made from video provided by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Russian soldiers fire a grenade launcher towards Ukrainian positions on an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)