Diaz fires Morocco past stubborn Tanzania into AFCON quarters
A moment of brilliance from Brahim Diaz broke Tanzania’s resilient resistance as Morocco secured a hard-fought 1-0 victory in Rabat to advance to the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals.
The Atlas Lions dominated possession but were frustrated for over an hour by a disciplined Tanzanian side, who sat deep and effectively limited clear chances.
Morocco thought they had broken the deadlock in the first half, but Ismail Saibari’s close-range finish was ruled out for offside after a VAR review.
Tanzania nearly capitalized against the run of play when Feisal Toto blazed over from inside the box, a let-off for the hosts.
The pressure finally told in the 63rd minute. Diaz, the tournament’s leading scorer, cut inside and finished from a sharp angle to provide the decisive breakthrough his fourth goal of AFCON 2025.
Despite sustained late pressure, Morocco could not extend their lead but comfortably saw out the match.
The narrow win underscores Morocco’s status as title contenders, though it also highlights the challenges they face against defensively organized opponents. Tanzania exit with pride after a historic run, while Morocco’s quest for continental glory continues.
