Cameroon boss Pagou insists Morocco are favourites for AFCON showdown

Cameroon coach David Pagou insists Morocco are favourites for Friday's Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final tussle, though he sees the chance to eliminate the hosts as an extra source of motivation.

Pagou's team will take on the Atlas Lions in Rabat for the opportunity to face either Algeria or Nigeria in the semi-finals next week.

The Indomitable Lions last lifted the trophy in 2017, though that is their only successful campaign since winning back-to-back editions in 2000 and 2002, while Morocco's only title came all the way back in 1976.

Both teams took seven points from three games in the groups, with Morocco then edging out Tanzania 1-0 in the last 16 and Cameroon overcoming South Africa by a 2-1 scoreline.

Morocco's less-than-stellar performances have attracted criticism from some supporters, but given they finished fourth at the World Cup just over three years ago, Pagou believes all the pressure is on the hosts.

"Morocco are the natural favourites," Pagou said, as quoted by Sports le 360.

"They were World Cup semi-finalists. It will be a very difficult match against a very good team. We will try to challenge them.

"What characterises Cameroonians is their courage, even when there's a mountain to overcome. It's the mental strength that makes the difference.

"It's a quarter-final against the host country, which has very strong individual players and a high-performing team. Morocco haven't lost at home for a very long time. That is an extra motivation. It will be a mental battle."

Morocco boss Walid Regragui is not fazed by the criticism he has received over the past few weeks, however, pointing out that many tournament victors start slowly. 

"We are still thinking the same way and have confidence in what we are doing," he told reporters.

"This is a tournament that requires staying grounded, even if people do not want to understand that. When you see the results and all the strong teams that have progressed, you realise what you are up against."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Cameroon – Carlos Baleba 

Baleba has won 67% of his duels so far at the Africa Cup of Nations (18/27), the best ratio of any player for Cameroon (minimum 10 contested). 

Against South Africa in the round of 16, the Brighton man won 10 of his 11 duels (90.9%), the best duel success rate for a Cameroon player in the competition (minimum 10 contested) since Aurelien Chedjou against Ivory Coast in 2015 (100%, 10/10).

Morocco – Brahim Diaz

Brahim has scored in each of Morocco's four games at this Africa Cup of Nations, with his four goals already the most by a Moroccan player at a single edition of the competition. 

Indeed, only Ahmed Faras (six) and Youssef En-Nesyri (five) have scored more times for them at the tournament overall.