The Moroccan national football team secured a place in the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON Morocco 2025) after a hard-fought 1–0 victory over Tanzania on Sunday afternoon at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
The decisive goal was scored by Brahim Diaz in the 64th minute, relieving mounting pressure on the Atlas Lions after a tense and closely contested encounter.
Morocco entered the match without key playmaker Azzedine Ounahi, who was sidelined after picking up an injury during Saturday’s final training session. He was replaced by Bilal El Khannouss, who struggled to impose himself and did not fully meet expectations in midfield.
The first half was marked by visible tension among the Moroccan players, with a lack of cohesion in short passing and limited penetration in attack. Brahim Diaz often appeared isolated, receiving few through balls in areas that allow him space to maneuver.
The opening 45 minutes ended goalless, a scenario that appeared to worry head coach Walid Regragui, aware that prolonged delays in scoring would boost Tanzania’s confidence and further complicate the task.
After the break, Morocco raised the tempo, pressing higher up the pitch and circulating the ball more quickly. The Atlas Lions increasingly relied on wide play and crosses aimed at striker Ayoub El Kaabi as they sought to break down Tanzania’s defensive block.
The breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute, when Brahim Diaz produced an individual effort to find the net, lifting both the team and the home crowd and easing the pressure during the final half-hour.
Morocco managed the remainder of the match with greater control, preserving their narrow lead until the final whistle to confirm qualification for the last eight of the tournament.
In the quarter-finals, the Atlas Lions will face the winner of the evening clash between South Africa’s Bafana Bafana and Cameroon’s Indomitable Lions, scheduled for 8:00 p.m. at Al Madina Stadium in Rabat.
