Brahim Diaz scored his fourth goal for Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to propel the hosts into the quarter-finals with a nervy 1-0 round of 16 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday.
Morocco dominated possession, but Tanzania also had chances, and it took a fine goal from Diaz to advance to the round of 16 and meet the winners of Sunday’s second match between South Africa and Cameroon.
Captain Achraf Hakimi fed Diaz on the right side of the box in the 64th minute and the Real Madrid playmaker made his way to the touchline, before firing into goal from a tight angle when most expected a cross.
Morocco wasted several other chances but were also fortunate that Tanzania wasted too, with Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum missing outstanding chances for the East Africans with the score 0-0.
It was a far from vintage performance from the home side, who have yet to step up a gear at the tournament but did enough to keep their campaign on track.
“The competition is heating up and we faced our toughest opponent in this Tanzanian team,” Diaz said.
“Not everything worked out, we know, but fortunately we managed to secure our qualification (for the next round). Now we get back to work to be fully ready for the quarter-finals.”
Tanzania had an early chance when Msuva had an open goal with a header, but he was only able to direct his effort well wide.
Morocco put the ball in the back of the net thanks to Ismael Saibari’s header from a free kick, but he was narrowly offside.
Ayoub El Kaabi then headed towards the home team when he should have done better, and followed up with another missed opportunity from a delicious cross from Hakimi.
Tanzania should have taken the lead in the 55th minute as home goalkeeper Yassine Bounou could only parry a long shot and the ball fell to Salum, who hit the crossbar from 10 yards out, leaving the goal gaping.
Hakimi then fired a free kick against the frame of the goal, before Morocco finally scored to calm the nerves at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium.
