Diaz propels Morocco into AFCON quarter-finals
Brahim Diaz, forward for Real Madrid, upheld his impressive run of scoring in every match at the Africa Cup of Nations. His goal ensured Morocco advanced to the quarter-finals after a 1-0 triumph over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday.
Diaz found the net in all three of his group stage games, and his strike in the 64th minute against Tanzania marked a milestone. He became the first player from Morocco to score in four successive AFCON fixtures.
The goal followed several missed opportunities by Morocco, extending their unbeaten streak in official and exhibition games to 23. Their previous defeat came against South Africa during the 2024 AFCON.
Morocco are set to play the winner of the upcoming match between South Africa and Cameroon, scheduled later on Sunday at another venue in Rabat, with the quarter-final clash on Friday.
Achraf Hakimi, the Paris Saint-Germain defender, provided the assist for Diazs decisive goal in the last-16 encounter. This was Hakimis first start in the competition, having substituted in during the win against Zambia the previous Monday.
The 2025 African footballer of the year had sustained a severe ankle injury while representing PSG against Bayern Munich in the Champions League about two months prior.
However, Morocco were without Azzedine Ounahi, who turned up at the stadium on crutches with a protective boot on his left foot. Bilal El Khannouss filled in for him in the midfield.
Morocco entered as strong favourites due to multiple factors, such as playing on home soil, support from nearly 70,000 fans, and ranking 101 spots higher than Tanzania globally.
Opening opportunity
Yet, Tanzania created the initial chance just three minutes in, though Saimon Msuva failed to connect properly with a cross from Selemani Mwalimu.
Morocco thought they had scored after 15 minutes when Ismael Saibari headed in a free-kick from Abdessamad Ezzalzouli beyond goalkeeper Hussein Masaranga.
The linesman flagged for offside right away, and a VAR check upheld the decision, ruling the PSV forward offside.
Ayoub El Kaabi came closest next for Morocco, nodding over the bar before clashing with Masaranga and getting hurt. After receiving medical attention, both continued.
Diaz then fired a shot high from the edge of the penalty area, and El Kaabi headed wide as the hosts pressed for the breakthrough. The first half concluded without goals.
The second half began energetically, with Ezzalzouli and El Kaabi both heading astray. In a counter from Tanzania, Feisal Fei Toto Salum missed high with only Yassine Bounou to face.
As the pressure from Morocco intensified, Hakimi struck a free-kick off the crossbar from near the box on the hour.
A goal felt imminent under the hosts continuous assault, and it arrived via Hakimi and Diaz.
The defender fed the ball to the attacker, who slotted it past Masaranga at the near post from a tight angle.