Diaz scores fourth goal at AFCON 2025 against Tanzania to get the Atlas Lions into the last eight.
In a jam packed Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat, the quality of Brahim Diaz shone brightest as Morocco narrowly made their way to the quarter-finals of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a 1-0 win over Tanzania.
The hosts thought they had taken the lead after 14 minutes, when Ismael Saibari’s header following a free kick found the net, but the effort was ruled out for offside.
The Atlas Lions continued to show a lot of teeth in the opening exchanges and almost found a way through when Ayoub El Kaabi’s header after 37 minutes went wide.
The relentless attack from Morocco continued after the break, with El Kaabi missing a golden opportunity to head the 1976 champions into the lead after Achraf Hakimi teed him up in Tanzania’s box.
Tanzania should have punished Morocco for their profligacy when Feisal Salum found himself completely unmarked in the host’s half following a rebound attempt but he failed to direct his shot on target.
Morocco kept probing and almost found the opener when Hakimi rattled the frame of Tanzania’s goal on the hour mark.
The breakthrough finally arrived after 64 minutes when Real Madrid’s Diaz shimmied in Tanzania’s box before his low effort was misjudged by Tanzania goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga.
The goal meant Diaz kept up his record of scoring in every game of the 2025 tournament, extended his lead as the top scorer of the ongoing competition to four goals, and became the first Moroccan player to score in four successive Africa Cup of Nations games.
Morocco held on to win 1-0, and will face the winner of the game between South Africa and Cameroon.
read more: https://www.olympics.com/en/news/afcon-2025-brahim-diaz-s-solitary-goal-sends-hosts-morocco-to-quarter-finals
