Cameroon booked their place in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals with a thrilling 2-1 victory over South Africa in Rabat, thanks to goals from Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane.

The win sets up a tantalizing quarter-final showdown against hosts Morocco on Friday (19:00 GMT), after the Indomitable Lions held off a late Bafana Bafana rally to delight their thousands of travelling fans.

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Tchamadeu Opens the Scoring

The game began with South Africa enjoying early pressure, but it was a stroke of luck that allowed Junior Tchamadeu to break the deadlock in the 34th minute.

A corner was only half-cleared before Carlos Baleba’s shot ricocheted inside the penalty area, striking Nkosinathi Sibisi and then Cameroon defender Samuel Kotto, dropping perfectly for Tchamadeu to finish from close range. After a lengthy VAR check for offside, the goal stood, giving the Central Africans the lead.

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Kofane Doubles the Lead

Just two minutes into the second half, Cameroon doubled their advantage through Christian Kofane, who met Mahamadou Nagida’s inviting left-wing cross with a precise near-post header across goalkeeper Ronwen Williams.

The 19-year-old Kofane, who made his professional debut with Albacete less than a year ago, has emerged as a key figure for Cameroon after scoring his first tournament goal against Mozambique earlier in the group stage. His movement and finishing provided a focal point for a youthful Cameroon side orchestrated by coach David Pagou.

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South Africa Rally Late

South Africa, led by former Cameroon coach Hugo Broos, intensified their pressure in the final stages. Evidence Makgopa scored from close range in the 88th minute to set up a tense finish, but Cameroon goalkeeper Devis Epassy produced crucial saves to preserve the win.

Bafana Bafana had earlier squandered several gilt-edged chances, including a near-post header from Lyle Foster and a missed effort by Relebohile Mofokeng. Foster also had a goal ruled out for offside in the first half, leaving South Africa to rue their profligacy inside the opening 15 minutes.

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Eto’o and the Fans

The atmosphere in Rabat was electric, with Indomitable Lions legend Samuel Eto’o, now president of the Cameroonian Football Federation (Fecafoot), receiving raucous cheers from the crowd. In contrast, Broos, who led Cameroon to Afcon glory in 2017 and South Africa to third place in 2023, was met with boos every time he appeared on the stadium screens.

Eto’o’s controversial last-minute squad decisions—dropping established stars like Andre Onana and Vincent Aboubakar in favour of youthful talent—have so far paid dividends, with players like Kofane and Tchamadeu delivering decisive contributions.

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What’s Next

Cameroon’s win marks just their second-ever victory over South Africa in Afcon history. They now face host nation Morocco in what promises to be a highly competitive quarter-final tie at the Stade Mohammed V. Morocco enter the clash after a 1-0 win over Tanzania, and home advantage will make this a tough test for the Indomitable Lions.

The match will also be a test of whether Cameroon’s youthful squad has the depth and composure to progress further in the tournament.

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Key Takeaways

• Cameroon defeated South Africa 2-1 in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16.
• Junior Tchamadeu and Christian Kofane scored for the Indomitable Lions.
• Evidence Makgopa scored late for Bafana Bafana, but Cameroon held on.
• Cameroon face host nation Morocco in the quarter-finals in Rabat.
• Hugo Broos’ South Africa struggled with early missed chances and late defensive lapses.
• Eto’o’s youth-focused squad strategy appears to be paying off for Cameroon.