Morocco reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations
January 4, 2026
279d agoMorocco reached the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as tournament hosts, defeating a resilient Tanzania 1-0 at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah in Rabat. The match's sole goal came from star midfielder Brahim Díaz in the 64th minute, with an assist from captain Achraf Hakimi. The win maintains Morocco's perfect record in the knockout stage as they pursue their first AFCON title since 1976.
Tanzania, ranked 112th in the world, put up a staunch defensive effort for over an hour, frustrating the 11th-ranked Atlas Lions. They also created one of the game's clearest chances early on, but Simon Msuva failed to convert a header into an empty net. Despite Morocco's overwhelming 72% first-half possession, the teams went into halftime scoreless.
The deadlock was finally broken when Brahim Díaz received a pass from Hakimi inside the box, beat his marker, and fired a shot that squeezed past Tanzania's goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga at the near post. The goal was historic, making Díaz the first Moroccan player ever to score in four different AFCON matches. After the goal, Morocco managed the game calmly, and Tanzania's late appeals for a penalty were dismissed.
The victory sets up a heavyweight quarter-final clash for Morocco, where they will face the winner of the match between South Africa and Cameroon. For Tanzania, their tournament ends in the Round of 16, matching their best-ever performance from the 2025 edition.
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