By Kunle Solaja, Rabat
Morocco booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025 with a narrow 1–0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, as Brahim Diaz delivered another decisive moment to underline the hosts’ title ambitions.
It was a testing evening for the Atlas Lions at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, where dominance in possession did not immediately translate into clear chances. Tanzania, organised and resolute, sat deep and closed spaces effectively, forcing Morocco into patient build-up play and frustrating the home crowd.
Captained by Achraf Hakimi for the first time at this edition, Morocco thought they had broken the deadlock midway through the first half when Ismail Saibari finished from close range, only for VAR to rule the goal out for offside in the 24th minute. The setback summed up a subdued opening half, which ended in a goalless draw.
Walid Regragui’s side returned with greater urgency after the interval. Diaz immediately signalled intent with a glancing header that forced a corner, before Bilal El Khannouss fired narrowly over in the 52nd minute as Morocco began to turn the screw.
Tanzania, however, nearly stunned the hosts against the run of play. Feisal Toto found himself unmarked inside the penalty area in the 56th minute but sent his effort high over the bar, missing a rare and golden opportunity.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 63rd minute, sparked by individual brilliance. Diaz cut inside and finished from a tight angle to beat the goalkeeper and ignite celebrations among the capacity crowd. The goal was his fourth of the tournament, taking him clear at the top of the scoring charts.
“The competition is growing in intensity, and we have just faced our toughest opposition so far,” Diaz reflected afterwards. “Not everything worked, but fortunately, we managed to secure our qualification. Now we will go back to work to be fully ready for the quarter-finals.”
Despite continued pressure and several half-chances, Morocco were unable to add to their lead. Tanzania remained competitive until the final whistle but could not find a way back as the hosts held firm.
Regragui acknowledged both the difficulty of the contest and his team’s improvement after the break. “We knew it was not going to be easy,” the Morocco coach said. “The first half was not good, but I recognised my team much more in the second half. The most important thing is qualification.”
The coach also confirmed a major setback, revealing that Azzedine Ounahi is out of the tournament after picking up an injury in training. “We are losing an exceptional player and a leader in our dressing room, but we will continue to fight for him,” Regragui added.
On the opposing bench, Tanzania head coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi took pride in his side’s performance despite elimination. “I am so proud of what my team produced, both in their attitude and tactically,” he said. “They showed that the gap between Morocco and us is not as big as people think. We will come back stronger.”
With the win, Morocco advance to the quarter-finals, where they will face the winner of the Round of 16 clash between South Africa and Cameroon at the Stade Al Madina, as the hosts’ quest for continental glory gathers momentum.
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