Fueled by relentless dominance, Morocco secured its place in the quarterfinals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a narrow but deserved 1–0 win over Tanzania on Sunday at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
For this first knockout-stage clash, head coach Walid Regragui made a few strategic tweaks to his lineup. Achraf Hakimi returned to his usual spot on the right flank, while Noussair Mazraoui took charge on the left. In midfield, Bilal El Khannous was given the nod over Azzedine Ounahi to inject more creativity into the center of the pitch.
Despite Morocco entering the match as clear favorites, the early moments hinted at a more competitive encounter. Just three minutes in, Tanzania nearly struck first. Simon Msuva, a former Wydad Casablanca forward, found himself unmarked at the back post after a quick break but couldn’t direct his header on target.
The Taifa Stars gained confidence from that early scare and began pressing high, capitalizing on some early miscommunication in Morocco’s buildup. It took until the 11th minute for the Atlas Lions to register their first attempt, a long-range effort from El Aynaoui that flew harmlessly over the bar.
Soon after, Saibari thought he had opened the scoring, only to see his goal correctly ruled out for offside. That close call seemed to jolt the Moroccan side into gear. They began to take control, especially down the right wing, where Hakimi, Diaz, and El Khannous linked up with increasing menace.
By the 35th minute, Morocco was in complete command, boasting over 75% possession. Ayoub El Kaabi came close with a diving header that narrowly missed the post, as the hosts piled on the pressure.
The second half followed the same script. Hakimi continued to dominate his side of the pitch, whipping in a series of dangerous crosses. One found Ezzalzouli, whose header was denied by Masalanga. Minutes later, El Kaabi once again failed to hit the target from close range.
But Tanzania wasn’t finished yet. Against the run of play, they launched a swift counter that nearly changed the momentum. Hussein tested Yassine Bounou with a low strike from the edge of the box. The Moroccan keeper parried it straight to Msanga, who had a golden chance to equalize but blazed his shot over the bar.
Morocco kept pushing, and just past the hour mark, Hakimi unleashed a powerful free kick that rattled the crossbar. Finally, their persistence paid off. Another move down the right saw Hakimi find Brahim Diaz in the box. The Real Madrid forward cut inside with his left before firing home with his right from a tight angle, beating Masalanga at the near post.
That goal marked Diaz’s fourth in four matches—a historic streak that highlights his growing influence under Regragui. No Moroccan player had ever started a tournament this prolifically.
By the 70th minute, Morocco had taken 12 shots to Tanzania’s 4, with the visitors struggling to generate any momentum as the match wore on. The Atlas Lions saw out the game comfortably and now await the winner of the evening’s match between South Africa and Cameroon in the quarterfinals.
