Morocco 1-0 Tanzania: Diaz equals long-standing AFCON record with decisive strike against Taifa Stars | OneFootball

Morocco claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Tanzania in their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) round of 16 clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday.

Tanzania created the game’s first attempt, with Simon Msuva rising high to meet Selemani Abdallah’s cross inside the six-yard box. He failed to hit the target.

Ismael Saibari thought he had given Morocco the lead when he thundered the ball home with a header, but his effort was ruled offside by the VAR.

The Atlas Lions continued to crank up pressure, but Tanzania defended resolutely.

Ayyoub El Kaabi came the closest to breaking the deadlock before half-time with a close-range header, but it narrowly drifted wide.

Morocco upped the ante after the restart as they pushed for the opener. Saibari and Abde Ezzalzouli called goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga into action five minutes after the start of the second half.

They eventually scored in the 64th minute, when Achraf Hakimi picked out Brahim Diaz. He hit the back of the net from an acute angle.

Diaz has now become the first player to score in each of his four AFCON matches since former Mali striker Fantamady Keita achieved the feat in 1972.

The Real Madrid forward’s strike sent Morocco to the quarter-finals, where they will face either Cameroon or South Africa.