Rabat, Morocco — In a tense Africa Cup of Nations match, Morocco edged past Tanzania 1-0, thanks to a stunning strike from Brahim Díaz in the 64th minute. The victory was a testament to Morocco's persistence and dominance, as they controlled 70.9% of the possession, pinning Tanzania back for long stretches. The final score of 1-0 reflected Morocco's superiority, but Tanzania's resilience and determination made for a compelling encounter.
The decisive moment came when Achraf Hakimi delivered a precise pass to Brahim Díaz, who unleashed a powerful right-footed shot from a difficult angle on the right, finding the bottom right corner of the net. The goal sparked jubilation among the Moroccan players and fans, and it proved to be the turning point in a match that had been evenly contested until then. Morocco's shot advantage, with 12 attempts to Tanzania's 4, ultimately paid off, as they created more chances and tested the Tanzanian defense repeatedly.
The battle for midfield supremacy was intense, with both teams committing fouls and earning yellow cards. Tanzania's 19 fouls and 5 yellow cards highlighted their physical approach, but Morocco's discipline and composure allowed them to maintain their dominance. The referee was busy, brandishing 6 cards in a feisty affair that saw several heated exchanges between players. Morocco's goalkeeper, Yassine Bounou, made a crucial save in the 56th minute to deny Mohamed Hussein, while Tanzania's Hussein Masalanga made 3 saves to keep his team in the game.
Morocco's possession dominance was a key factor in their victory, as they consistently pushed Tanzania back and created scoring opportunities. The home team's 4 corners and 12 shots on goal demonstrated their attacking intent, and their defense remained solid, conceding only 1 shot on target. In contrast, Tanzania's 0 corners and 4 shots on goal highlighted their struggles to create chances. The away team's 5 yellow cards and 19 fouls also disrupted their rhythm and limited their ability to mount a sustained attack.
Morrocco is now headed to the quaterfinals.