Brahim Diaz delivered again for Morocco at AFCON 2025, earning Man of the Match as his second-half strike sealed a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat.
Morocco had to work relentlessly for their place in the quarter-finals, dominating the ball but running into a disciplined Tanzanian defence that refused to open up in the first half. Achraf Hakimi, captaining the side for the first time at this tournament, helped keep the hosts on the front foot, yet clear chances remained rare as Tanzania sat deep and closed every gap.
The Atlas Lions thought they had cracked it on 24 minutes when Ismail Saibari finished from close range, only for VAR to rule the effort out for offside and send the game into the break goalless.
After halftime, Morocco lifted the tempo, with Diaz and Bilal El Khannouss both threatening before Tanzania’s Feisal Toto wasted a huge chance by firing over from inside the box.
Diaz finally settled home nerves in the 63rd minute, cutting in and scoring from a tight angle for his fourth goal of the tournament, sending Morocco through to face South Africa or Cameroon in the last eight.
