Morocco edges Tanzania to reach AFCON quarter-finals

Africa Cup of Nations host nation Morocco secured their passage to the quarterfinals of the competition following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Tanzania at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday evening.

The Taifa Stars came close to opening the scoring inside the first two minutes as Morocco looked shaky in transitional periods. However, as the dust settled, Morocco saw out their first attempt on goal in the 10th minute of the match.

FULL-TIME! 🇲🇦🇹🇿

Brahim Díaz wins it for Morocco. #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | @tecnomobile pic.twitter.com/H8gHZAUqHc — TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2026

Morocco thought they had taken the lead in the 14th minute after Ismael Saibari found the back of the net with a clinical header from a set-piece situation. However, VAR chalked off the goal after Saibari was found to be in an offside position.

Quarter-finals | Spot 3. 🇲🇦

Morocco advance to the next round of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/Af0zXOvbgk — TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2026

Both sides created notable scoring chances en-route to the halftime whistle, with the home side seeing more of the ball in their bid to take the lead.

Putting Morocco on top. A Brahim Díaz specialty. 🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WeCelebrateDifferent pic.twitter.com/q1UyaKGqTc — TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2026

Morocco looked lively after the restart and put Tanzania under immense pressure leading up to the hour mark.

The Atlas Lions’ pressure paid off in the 63rd minute after Brahim Diaz continued his rich vein of goal scoring form. After Achraf Hakimi beat his opposite marker on the right flank, the Morocco defender picked out Diaz inside the area as he slotted the ball home from an acute angle.

With Morocco being a goal to the good, the game turned physical around the 80th minute mark as frustration crept in on the Taifa Stars part.

Nonetheless, the Atlas Lions managed to preserve their lead and jotted down a crucial victory to advance to the next stage of the tournament.

Morocco: (0) 1 (Diaz 63’)

Tanzania: 0

Morocco: Bono, Hakimi, Aguerd, Masina, Mazraoui (Salah-Eddine 76’), Ezzalzouli, El Aynaoui, El Khannouss, Diaz (Targhalline 85’), El Kaabi (En-Nesyri 77’), Saibari (Ben Seghir 77’)

Tanzania: Masalanga, Mwalimu (Samatta 66’), Salum, Msuva (M’Mombwa 73’), Mnoga (Kapombe 72’), Miroshi, Msanga (Selemani 83’), Husseini (Allarakhia 73’), Job, Nondo, Hamad