Real Madrid forward Brahim Diaz wrote his name into the history books on Sunday, scoring the decisive goal that propelled Morocco into the quarter-finals of the Africa Cup of Nations. The 1-0 victory over Tanzania in Rabat was sealed by Diaz's 64th-minute strike, continuing his remarkable scoring streak in the tournament.
Diaz Creates Moroccan Record
The match-winning moment not only secured Morocco's progression but also carved out a personal milestone for Brahim Diaz. Having scored in each of Morocco's three group stage matches, his goal against Tanzania made him the first Moroccan player ever to score in four consecutive AFCON games. This maintained his stunning goal-a-game record at the 2026 finals.
The crucial goal arrived after Morocco had dominated possession and created numerous chances, only to be frustrated by a resilient Tanzanian defence and their own missed opportunities. The assist came from Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi, who was making his first start of the tournament after recovering from a serious ankle injury suffered two months ago.
Match Highlights and Missed Opportunities
The host nation, backed by nearly 70,000 supporters at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, entered the match as heavy favourites. However, it was Tanzania who carved out the first clear chance in the third minute, with Saimon Msuva failing to connect properly with a cross from Selemani Mwalimu.
Morocco thought they had taken the lead after 15 minutes when Ismael Saibari headed home a free-kick, but the effort was correctly ruled out for offside following a VAR review. Striker Ayoub El Kaabi also went close with a header before being involved in a collision with Tanzanian goalkeeper Hussein Masaranga.
The first half ended goalless despite Morocco's pressure, with Diaz and El Kaabi both missing the target. The host nation's breakthrough finally came in the second half, just minutes after Hakimi had rattled the crossbar with a powerful free-kick.
Looking Ahead to the Quarter-Finals
With this victory, Morocco extended their unbeaten run across all competitions to 23 matches. Their last defeat was against South Africa at the 2024 AFCON. They now await the winner of the last-16 clash between South Africa and Cameroon, who were scheduled to play later on Sunday at a different venue in Rabat. The quarter-final is set for Friday.
The win was achieved without midfielder Azzedine Ounahi, who was spotted at the stadium on crutches and wearing a medical boot on his left foot. His place in the starting lineup was taken by Bilal El Khannouss.
Morocco's journey continues as they aim to leverage their home advantage and the incredible form of Brahim Diaz to advance further in the tournament they are hosting.
