Rabat, January 08 (QNA) - Hosts Morocco will take on five-time champions Cameroon on Friday in one of the standout ties of the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, as the tournament reaches a decisive stage.

Morocco are aiming to reach the semi-finals for the first time since 2004, when they finished runners-up, after edging past Tanzania 1-0 in the last 16. Standing in their way is a Cameroon side with a formidable continental pedigree, having lifted the AFCON trophy in 1984,1988, 2000, 2002 and 2017.

The meeting also carries historical significance. Cameroon eliminated Morocco at the semi-final stage of the 1988 tournament, which was also hosted by Morocco.

Cameroon arrive in Rabat with renewed confidence following a 2-1 victory over South Africa in the round of 16. Despite failing to reach the play-offs for the 2026 World Cup, the Indomitable Lions have regrouped during this tournament, blending new faces into their squad. In the group stage, they recorded wins over Gabon and Mozambique and drew with Ivory Coast.

The winner of Friday's clash will face either Nigeria or Algeria in the semi-finals. That quarter-final is scheduled for Saturday in Marrakech.

Elsewhere, Senegal will play Mali in Tangier in another quarter-final tie. Senegal topped Group D with seven points, recording comfortable 3-0 wins over Botswana and Benin before drawing 1-1 with Congo.

History favours the Teranga Lions, who have won 19 of their 41 meetings with Mali, compared with eight victories for their West African rivals, while 13 matches ended in draws. This will be only their second encounter at the Africa Cup of Nations, following a 1-1 draw in the group stage of the 2004 tournament in Tunisia.

Mali reached the quarter-finals without winning a single match in regulation time. They finished second in Group A with three points from three draws against Zambia, Morocco and Comoros, before eliminating Tunisia on penalties after a 1-1 draw in the last 16.

Much of Mali's attacking threat has come from Lassine Sinayoko, who has scored all three of his team's goals at the tournament, including two penalties against Tunisia and Morocco.

The winner of the Senegal-Mali tie will advance to the semi-finals, where they will meet either record seven-time champions Egypt or holders Ivory Coast, who face each other on Saturday in Agadir.

The Africa Cup of Nations concludes on January 18, with the host nation hoping to extend their run deep into the tournament. (QNA)