The 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is entering its decisive phase, as the three Arab teams—Morocco, Egypt, and Algeria—face tough challenges in the quarterfinals against Cameroon, Ivory Coast, and Nigeria, all of which are prestigious teams with a long history in African football.

If two Arab teams qualify for the final, it will be the first time since the 2004 edition, when Tunisia won the title by defeating Morocco 2-1.

The winner of the match between Morocco and Cameroon will face the winner of the match between Algeria and Nigeria, while the winner of the match between Egypt and Ivory Coast will meet the winner of the match between Senegal and Mali.

The Algerian national team is currently considered the best among Arab teams, having won all their matches in the tournament so far. They are maintaining their dream of securing a third title in their history, following their victories in 1990 and 2019, both editions in which they had a perfect run from the start.

In contrast, the Moroccan and Egyptian teams did not deliver the expected performance despite overcoming relatively weaker opponents, making their matches against Cameroon and Ivory Coast their first real test in the tournament.

A special match for Morocco against Cameroon

For the second time in its history as the tournament host, the Moroccan national team faces off against Cameroon on its way to the title. In the 1988 edition, the Cameroonian team ended the dream of Morocco’s golden generation by winning 1-0 in the semifinal in Casablanca.

After 38 years, the confrontation is renewed, and the current generation of the Moroccan national team, which finished fourth in the 2022 World Cup, hopes for redemption, especially since this time the exit came early in the quarterfinals.

The Moroccan national team aims to win its second title in history after a 50-year absence, benefiting from strong fan support. However, they are required to improve their performance following inconsistent displays, the most recent being a narrow 1-0 victory over Tanzania in the round of 16.

Head coach Walid Regragui confirmed that the match against Cameroon will involve a change in approach, indicating the possibility of adopting a more cautious strategy similar to what was seen in the Qatar World Cup, with an emphasis on defensive organization and counterattacks.

On the other hand, the Cameroonian national team, led by their new coach David Pagou, showed a strong desire to make up for their failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, with their sights set on winning their sixth continental title.

Egypt is in search of the elusive title.

The situation of the Egyptian national team is not much different from that of their Moroccan counterparts, as they achieved positive results without convincing performances. Their latest was a 3-1 victory over Benin after extra time in the round of 16, in a match where captain Mohamed Salah scored a decisive goal.

Salah hopes to win the only African title missing from his career, but he emphasized after qualifying that the national team is not considered the favorite, given that the lineup relies heavily on players from the local league.

Egypt faces a tough test against the Ivory Coast, the defending champions, who qualified with a 3-0 victory over Burkina Faso in a match that clearly showcased the dominance of the "Elephants."

The Ivory Coast players, led by Amad Diallo, are seeking revenge against Egypt after being eliminated by them in a penalty shootout in the 2022 edition. Meanwhile, head coach Hossam Hassan approaches the match recalling the memories of the 2006 victory, when he led the Egyptian national team to win against the Ivory Coast in the final through a penalty shootout.

Algeria is moving forward steadily.

The Algerian national team continues its steady progress, having secured four consecutive victories. Their coach, Vladimir Petković, managed his lineup intelligently, even fielding a group of substitutes in the final group stage match and achieving a 3-1 win over Equatorial Guinea.

The Algerian national team demonstrated its ability to handle tough matches, having defeated Burkina Faso 1-0, then overcoming the Democratic Republic of Congo by the same score after extra time in the round of 16.

Betkovich confirmed that these matches contribute to the team's development and enhance the players' level of focus.

But the next challenge will be different against the Nigerian national team, which has seen its dream of qualifying for the World Cup come to an end, yet possesses a clear attacking strength, having scored 12 goals in the tournament thanks to the brilliance of Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.

In the fourth quarter-final match, Senegal's chances of overcoming Mali, the tournament's surprise team that eliminated Tunisia on penalties despite not having won any matches so far and only managing four draws, appear strong.