Cameroon head coach David Pagou has explained the key factors behind his side’s quarter-final exit at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations following a narrow defeat to host nation Morocco.

The Indomitable Lions were second-best for long spells as the North Africans controlled proceedings on Friday night, booking a place in the semi-finals with a 2–0 victory. First-half strikes from Brahim Díaz and a second-half finish by Ismael Saibari proved decisive.

Speaking after the match, Pagou pointed to the timing of the second goal as the turning point of the encounter.
“I’m proud of my players. We competed well against Morocco, and we leave the AFCON with our heads held high,” he said.

The Cameroonian tactician admitted his team struggled at certain moments but felt they showed resilience after the break.
“We faced some difficulties, but we came back well in the second half. However, the second goal we conceded decided the match,” Pagou noted.

Despite the elimination, the coach expressed satisfaction with his team’s overall display and effort throughout the tournament.

“Overall, I am satisfied with the performance,” he concluded.