Hosts Morocco moved a step closer to ending their long wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title as they beat Tanzania 1-0 to book a place in the quarter-finals.
Brahim Díaz’s second-half strike proved decisive in a tense last-16 encounter, as the Atlas Lions were made to work hard by a disciplined and courageous Tanzanian side.
Morocco appeared to have made the perfect start when Ismael Saibari headed home from a left-wing cross inside the opening 15 minutes, but celebrations were cut short after the assistant referee ruled the goal offside.
Photo Credit: AFP
Walid Regragui’s side dominated possession throughout the first half but struggled to break down a compact Taifa Stars defence. Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi both went close before the interval, yet Morocco failed to register a single shot on target before the break.
Tanzania, making history by reaching the knockout stages for the first time, remained organised and composed, frustrating the home crowd with their defensive discipline.
The tempo increased after half-time, with Morocco forcing goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga into action early on as he pushed away Abde Ezzalzouli’s close-range header.
Photo Credit: AFP
Tanzania then missed a huge opportunity to stun the hosts when Feisal Salum fired over from a promising position.
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Achraf Hakimi struck the woodwork from a free-kick on the hour mark as Moroccan pressure intensified, and the breakthrough finally arrived in the 64th minute. Díaz found space at the near post and squeezed his shot past Masalanga, sparking celebrations inside the stadium.
Diaz has now scored 4 goals in 4 matches. Photo Credit: AFP
The goal eased the tension for the tournament favourites, who controlled the closing stages to secure a narrow but deserved victory.
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Morocco will now face either Cameroon or South Africa in the quarter-finals, while Tanzania exit the tournament with pride after a landmark AFCON campaign.
