JAKARTA - Morocco advanced to the quarter finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) 2025 on Sunday, January 4, 2025, with a 1-0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat. Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz scored a beautiful goal in the second half of the intense match.
This victory keeps Morocco's hopes of ending a 50-year wait for a continental title at home.
Diaz, the strongest candidate for the best player of the tournament so far, extended his record of scoring in every game Morocco has played.
His goal in the 64th minute, defeating Tanzania goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga at the near post, made him now have four goals and lead the list of top scorers of the 2025 African Cup.
Actually, Tanzania gave Morocco a fierce resistance. The team nicknamed Taifa Stars - who have never won a match at the 2025 African Cup of Nations - had great opportunities in every round. Unfortunately, they were not able to take advantage of the opportunity.
Despite being ranked 101st in FIFA, Tanzania tried to attack the hosts from the start and created some nice opportunities in the first half.
Selemani Abdala broke through on the right side in the third minute. A good cross from him passed Yacine Bounou to find Simon Msuva, who was unmarked at the back post.
However, the attacker, perhaps did not expect the ball to reach him. As a result, he could only watch in disbelief as his unbalanced header floated away from the goal when the Moroccan goalkeeper was helpless.
Tanzania continued to look brave in the attack and aggressive without the ball. It's just that, slowly Morocco began to dominate.
Neil El Aynaoui fired a long-range shot in the 10th minute, before Ismael Saibari's close-range header was ruled offside after he headed Abde Ezzalzouli's free-kick.
Towards the end of the first half, Ayoub El Kaabi - one of the stars of the 2025 Africa Cup so far - fired a soaring header after receiving a good cross, making the Moroccan supporters at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium even more worried about their inability to break the deadlock.
Indeed, even though captain Achraf Hakimi returned to the starting lineup for the first time in a competitive match after two months, Morocco seemed to lack the characteristic speed and intensity.
Without midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who was injured in a training session after entering the stadium on crutches and his right leg wrapped in a protective boot, Morocco lacked the control, creativity and tempo changes that are the hallmark of this Girona player.
His replacement, Bilal El Khannouss, fired a volley from the edge of the penalty area in the 50th minute as the Atlas Lions attempted to dominate after the break.
Tanzania again created an extraordinary opportunity to open the score in the 57th minute, when Abdala calmly passed the ball to the middle for Feisal Salum. However, the Azam FC midfielder's shot bounced off the crossbar, even though the goal was wide open.
Minutes later, they had to pay dearly for the delay, when Hakimi created an opportunity with a slick footwork on the right wing, taking advantage of the over-alert Tanzanian defense, before passing to Diaz.
The Real Madrid player still had a lot to do, avoiding Ibrahim Hamad's guard before running towards Masalanga's goal and surprising the goalkeeper with a shot on his near post.
Diaz and his teammates celebrated the winning goal by lifting Ounahi's number 8 and waving it in front of the home fans, perhaps further hinting at the severity of the 25-year-old's injury.
Diaz was replaced in the 84th minute as he appeared to be feeling unwell, which will have head coach Walid Regragui concerned.
Tanzania were aware they should have been more clinical in a stronger situation, bringing on veteran Mbwana Samatta from the bench.
However, they were unable to provide significant pressure to the Atlas Lions before the final whistle, with the loud penalty shout at the end of the game for Adam Masina's push on substitute Iddi Alli ignored by the referee.
Morocco will now advance to their third quarterfinal since reaching the final at the 2004 African Cup of Nations. The last eight will take place in Rabat on Saturday, January 10, 2026, against Cameroon.
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