Morocco were balked by Tanzania’s acclimatized defence in the aboriginal half
Brahim Diaz addled afresh afterwards the breach to adjudge a bound challenge
The Atlas Lions will face the champ of South Africa vs Cameroon in the quarter-finals
Morocco appointed their abode in the quarter-finals of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 with a attenuated 1–0 achievement over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday, as Brahim Diaz’s second-half bang accepted decisive.
The beforehand came afterwards a accommodating but testing black for the hosts, who bedeviled control but begin bright affairs adamantine to appear by adjoin a well-organised Tanzanian ancillary bent to extend their celebrated run at the tournament.
Morocco, captained by Achraf Hakimi for the aboriginal time at this edition, controlled the aperture exchanges but struggled to about-face territorial ascendancy into goals. Tanzania sat deep, bankrupt spaces calmly and afresh denied the Atlas Lions allowance to accomplish in the final third.
The home ancillary anticipation they had fabricated the beforehand amid through the aboriginal bisected aback Ismail Saibari accomplished from abutting ambit in the 24th minute, alone for the ambition to be disqualified out afterward a VAR analysis for offside. It was a moment that accent Morocco’s annoyance as the aboriginal aeon concluded goalless.
Walid Regragui’s ancillary emerged with greater coercion afterwards the restart. Brahim Diaz was anon involved, banishment a bend with a casual header, afore Bilal El Khannouss accursed about over the batten in the 52nd minute as Morocco began to about-face the screw.
Tanzania, however, about abashed the hosts adjoin the run of play. Feisal Toto begin himself bare central the box in the 56th minute but beatific his accomplishment aerial over the bar, abandonment what would accept been a arresting opener.
Roared on by a accommodation army at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex, Morocco assuredly begin the absolute moment aloof accomplished the hour mark.
Diaz produced a moment of alone accuracy in the 63rd minute, acid in and finishing from a bound bend to exhausted the goalkeeper and burn celebrations in the stands.
The ambition was Diaz’s fourth of the tournament, demography him bright at the top of the scoring archive and already afresh underlining his accent to Morocco’s appellation ambitions.
Despite connected burden and several half-chances, the hosts were clumsy to add to their lead. Tanzania remained aggressive until the final whistle, but could not acquisition a way aback as Morocco captivated close to defended progression.
With the win, Morocco beforehand to the quarter-finals, area they will accommodated the champ of the Round of 16 affray amid South Africa and Cameroon at the Stade Al Madina in Rabat.
REACTIONS
Brahim Diaz – TotalEnergies Man of the Match:
“The antagonism is growing in acuteness and we accept aloof faced our toughest action so far adjoin this Tanzanian team. Not aggregate worked, we apperceive that, but auspiciously we managed to defended our qualification. Now we will go aback to assignment to be absolutely accessible for the quarter-finals.” Miguel Ángel Gamondi – Tanzania arch coach: “I am so appreciative of what my aggregation produced. So appreciative of my players, both in their attitude and tactically. They showed that the gap amid Morocco and us is not as big as bodies think. We will appear aback stronger, I am assertive of that.”