Brahim Diaz’s second-half strike sent host nation Morocco into the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations as they edged past a stubborn Tanzania side in Rabat, Afrosport reports.
The Real Madrid playmaker finished confidently at the near post midway through the second half after being set up by Achraf Hakimi, who was making his first start in more than two months following an ankle injury. The goal proved decisive and secured Morocco a place in the last eight, where they will face either South Africa or Cameroon on Friday.
Diaz’s effort was historic, making him the first Moroccan player to score in four consecutive matches at the AFCON finals. He had earlier emerged as the tournament’s top scorer in qualifying with seven goals.
Morocco turned up the pressure after the interval and created a series of chances. Hakimi struck a fierce free-kick against the crossbar, while Tanzania goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga produced an excellent save to deny Abde Ezzalzouli’s close-range header. Ayoub El Kaabi also went close, glancing Hakimi’s cross just wide.
Tanzania’s best chance came shortly before the goal, when Feisal Salum lifted the rebound over the bar after goalkeeper Yassine Bounou failed to hold Mohamed Hussein’s curling long-range effort.
Quarter-finals | Spot 3. 🇲🇦
Morocco advance to the next round of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025! 🌟 pic.twitter.com/Af0zXOvbgk
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2026
Morocco will discover their quarter-final opponents later on Sunday, when South Africa’s Bafana Bafana meet Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions.
