Morocco secured a spot in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) after defeating Tanzania 1-0 in Rabat, thanks to a second-half strike from Brahim Diaz.
The match, played at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, saw both teams struggle to break the deadlock during the first half. Morocco dominated possession but was unable to find the back of the net, with Ayoub El Kaabi missing a header and Achraf Hakimi hitting the crossbar with a powerful free-kick.
In the second half, Diaz capitalised on a loose defensive moment from Tanzania. After receiving a cross from Achraf Hakimi, he fired a low shot from a tight angle, beating goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga at the near post. This goal, Diaz’s fourth of the tournament, proved enough to secure the win for Morocco.
Tanzania, making their first-ever appearance in the AFCON knockout stages, put up a valiant effort throughout the match. Despite Morocco’s pressure, they remained solid defensively but struggled to create clear-cut chances. Their best opportunity came early in the first half when Simon Msuva had an open header at the far post, but he failed to convert.
With the win, Morocco advances to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the South Africa vs Cameroon match. The result also marked the end of Tanzania’s historic run, as they failed to progress beyond the round of 16.
Brahim Diaz’s performance stood out as he was named Player of the Match, and his crucial goal reinforced his status as one of the tournament’s standout performers.
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