Tougher test awaits anxious hosts Morocco at Cup of Nations

RABAT, Jan ‌7 : Hosts Morocco can expect the first proper examination of their ability to go on and win the Africa Cup of Nations when they take on a feisty Cameroon in the quarter-finals at the weekend.

The top-ranked Moroccans were not stretched in the group phase of the tournament, where they finished top of the standings, nor in their last-16 clash against Tanzania on Sunday.

Yet they delivered only one convincing performance when they beat Zambia in their last of their group ‌matches and against Cameroon in Rabat on Friday there will need to ‌be a marked improvement if they are to advance towards the target of a first continental title in 50 years.

The home side were heavy pre-tournament favourites but have looked anxious and nervy at times, feeling the intense pressure and will be cautious of the threat that Cameroon pose. "We will try to disrupt them," said Cameroon coach David Pagou, promising a physical battle.

The game will be one of the highlights of a blockbuster ‍set of last-eight ties, with Algeria meeting Nigeria on Saturday and Egypt's clash against defending champions Ivory Coast later on the same day also eagerly anticipated.

Only Senegal, who take on Mali in the first quarter-final in Tangier on Friday, are expected to ease through to the semi-finals, up against opponents who have made it to the latter ​stages of the tournament without winning a ‌game.

Mali have drawn four successive matches in Morocco, advancing on post-match penalties over Tunisia in the last 16 despite being down to 10 men for most of the match. Their fighting ​spirit is not expected to be enough to hold out against Senegal's attack, which has scored 10 goals at ⁠the tournament.

Algeria and Nigeria are the only teams ‌to have won all four