Morocco booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations with a hard-earned 1–0 victory over Tanzania on Sunday night in Rabat, as Brahim Díaz once again proved decisive for the Atlas Lions.
In a fiercely contested and physical encounter, the Real Madrid playmaker delivered the moment of magic that separated the two sides.
Díaz, who has been Morocco’s standout performer throughout the tournament, finally broke the deadlock in the 63rd minute.
Showing sharp footwork and composure inside the box, he wriggled free from his marker before firing a powerful effort into the near post to spark celebrations among the home supporters.
The goal not only secured Morocco’s passage into the last eight but also saw Díaz write his name into the history books as the first Moroccan player to score in four consecutive AFCON matches.
It also lifted him to the top of the tournament’s scoring chart, underlining his growing influence on the continental stage.
Tanzania, however, can take pride in their performance. The Taifa Stars began the match brightly and almost stunned the hosts early on when Simon Msuva found himself unmarked at the far post, only to misdirect his header with the goal at his mercy. Throughout the game, they defended with discipline and frustrated Morocco for long periods, limiting clear-cut chances.
As the match wore on, Tanzania pushed for a dramatic equaliser and appealed strongly for a late penalty, but their protests were waved away, earning only a booking for the bench. Despite their efforts, they were unable to carve out a decisive opening.
The defeat brings an end to Tanzania’s historic AFCON campaign, their first journey into the knockout stages, while their search for a maiden AFCON win continues.
Morocco now march on with confidence and will face the winner of the Round of 16 clash between South Africa and Cameroon in the quarter-finals on January 9, as their title ambitions gather momentum.
