Morocco took care of business in Rabat, grinding out a 1-0 win over Tanzania in the Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 on Sunday. The margin was slim, the moment was huge. Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz broke the tension with a sharp finish in the 64th minute, pushing the Atlas Lions into the quarterfinals and giving a packed home crowd the release they craved.

This was not a flood of goals. It did not need to be. In knockout football, one clean moment is often enough. Diaz found it, and Morocco — now unbeaten in 23 straight matches across competitive and friendly games — moved on.

Diaz delivers the difference in Rabat

The winning sequence was a study in calm and timing. Achraf Hakimi spotted Diaz between lines and slipped a pass into his stride. The midfielder faced up his marker, nudged the ball onto his stronger foot, and chose the near post. The strike beat goalkeeper Masaranga from a tight angle. It looked simple; it was anything but.

For Diaz, this was more than a matchwinner. The 24-year-old became the first Moroccan to score in four straight AFCON matches, following three group-stage goals with the one that mattered most so far. Big tournaments reward rhythm, and Diaz is playing with the kind of rhythm that changes brackets.

“Hakimi to Diaz is Morocco’s new lifeline in big moments.”

A nervy path through a tight Round of 16

On paper, Morocco were heavy favorites. Tanzania came in ranked 101 places lower, and the atmosphere tilted every ounce toward the hosts, with nearly 70,000 fans behind them. But knockout games have their own rules, and the visitors nearly wrote a shock script early.

Inside three minutes, Tanzania carved out a dangerous look that hushed the stadium. It was a timely reminder: favorites must earn every step in AFCON.

Morocco grew into control. At 18 minutes, they thought they had the lead, only for VAR to confirm an offside and rule the goal out. Ayoub El Kaabi and others kept getting close, pulling defenders around and testing the goalkeeper, but the final touch kept missing. Hakimi then rattled the crossbar with a free-kick that had half the crowd celebrating a goal that wasn’t.

All that pressure needed a payoff. It came with Diaz’s cool finish after the hour. From there, Morocco managed the moments and protected the edge without panic.

“Four in four at AFCON — Diaz just raised the Atlas Lions’ ceiling.”

Records, runs, and what they tell us

Diaz’s four-game scoring streak is a slice of history that also speaks to Morocco’s balance. This team does not rely on one path to goal. They have full-backs who break lines, forwards who press and move, and a midfield that can slow or speed the game as needed. Diaz has become the final touch on many of those moves.

The broader picture matters, too. Morocco extended their unbeaten run to 23 matches in all competitions — a stretch that includes the rough and the routine. Their last defeat came at the 2024 AFCON, against South Africa, and you can feel how that memory still pushes this group. The lesson learned then — be ruthless — remains the guiding idea now.

Tactical notes: selection and the Hakimi–Diaz switch

Morocco adjusted in midfield due to injury. “Zed Oun” was absent, seen on crutches with a medical boot before the game, so Bilal El Khannouss started and brought calm on the ball. That control mattered as the match tightened. El Khannouss kept passing lanes open and helped Morocco stay on the front foot even when chances were not clear.

On the flanks, Hakimi’s role was crucial. His delivery for Diaz’s goal summed up his day: measured, aggressive, and smart. He also came closest before the breakthrough with that free-kick off the bar. When full-backs are threats, defenders hesitate, and space appears. Diaz moved into that space at the right time.

• Midfield balance with El Khannouss helped Morocco recycle possession.
• Hakimi’s width and timing made Tanzania’s shape stretch side to side.
• El Kaabi’s runs pulled center-backs, opening lanes for late-arriving finishers.

“A 23-game unbeaten run is elite — now make the scoreline bigger.”

Crowd power, context, and the road ahead

This felt like a home statement as much as a result. Rabat roared from the first whistle, groaned at the offside call, and surged again after the bar rattled. The winning goal sparked a wave that did not stop until the final whistle. The crowd’s energy was not just noise; it was pressure on Tanzania and fuel for Morocco.

And yet, the score stayed tight. That is the other truth here. Morocco did not run away from a team ranked far below them. They were patient, kept the ball, and picked their moment. In tournament football, that control is a strength. It also leaves a question: can they add one more goal when the chances come?

For now, the answer does not change the outcome. Morocco are into the quarterfinals. They did it by trusting their shape, trusting their stars, and trusting their crowd. Diaz stepped up, Hakimi guided the game’s rhythm, and the rest held the line.

What this win means

It confirms what we already sensed: Morocco have a high floor and a rising ceiling. They can keep clean sheets, they can find a single goal when it matters, and they have a match-winner in form at exactly the right time. That is a tough combination to beat in a knockout bracket.

The quarterfinals will ask new questions. But if the past 23 matches are a guide, Morocco have answers. As long as Diaz keeps moving with this calm and Hakimi keeps finding him in stride, the Atlas Lions will fancy their chances against anyone.

On nights like this, one strike is enough. In Rabat, Brahim Diaz made sure it was Morocco’s.