Brahim Diaz fired Morocco into the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals, sealing a 1-0 win over Tanzania in Rabat. The on-loan AC Milan midfielder struck in the 64th minute at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah,
scoring a fourth goal of the tournament and keeping the host nation’s title push moving.
Diaz’s finish also secured Morocco’s first clean sheet in an Africa Cup of Nations knockout match since a 4-0 semi-final victory over Mali in 2004. It is only the second time in seven knockout ties that Morocco have advanced, and just their third quarter-final in nine tournament appearances.
The 26-year-old is now the competition’s leading scorer and has set a national benchmark. Diaz became the first Morocco player to reach four goals during a single Africa Cup of Nations campaign. The Milan midfielder is also only the third player since 2010 to score in each of the first four games.
That scoring streak places Diaz alongside Vincent Aboubakar, who did so for Cameroon in 2022, and Mostafa Mohamed, who matched the feat for Egypt in 2023. Both earlier runs ended with deep tournament progress, and Morocco supporters will hope Diaz’s form underlines a similar drive this year.
Tanzania’s wait for a first Africa Cup of Nations victory now stretches to 13 matches, with five draws and eight defeats. That sequence makes Tanzania the country with the most games in the competition without a win, moving past Guinea-Bissau, who stopped at 12 appearances without success.
The knockout tie in Rabat unfolded with early drama, as Morocco thought the lead arrived on 15 minutes. Ismael Saibari headed in, but the assistant’s flag cut short celebrations for offside. Later in the first half, Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi both missed the target from promising positions.
Morocco increased pressure after the interval, with Achraf Hakimi supplying dangerous deliveries from the right. El Kaabi met one cross but sent a close-range header wide. Tanzania answered immediately with a break, as Mohamed Hussein drew a strong save from Yassine Bounou, and Feisal Salum lashed the rebound over.
The decisive moment came midway through the second half, when Diaz created a chance from a narrow angle. The midfielder’s low strike slipped under goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga and crossed the line, triggering loud celebrations from the home crowd and confirming Morocco’s place in the last eight.
The official tournament account marked Morocco’s progress with a post on 4 January 2026. The message highlighted the Atlas Lions claiming the third available quarter-final spot at Africa Cup of Nations 2025, reflecting the sense that the hosts are building steady momentum in front of home supporters.
Quarter-finals | Spot 3. Morocco advance to the next round of the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025!pic.twitter.com/Af0zXOvbgkTotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) January 4, 2026
Morocco now move into the quarter-finals with a strong defensive record and the tournament’s most in-form scorer. Tanzania exit after their first knockout appearance, still without a win but with experience gained, while Diaz’s form and Morocco’s resilience continue to shape the Africa Cup of Nations story.
