Hosts Morocco moved a step closer to ending their long wait for an Africa Cup of Nations title after beating Tanzania 1-0 to reach the quarter-finals.
Brahim Díaz scored the winning goal in the second half of a tense Round of 16 match, as Morocco were pushed hard by a well-organised and brave Tanzanian side.
Morocco thought they had taken an early lead when Ismael Saibari headed in from a left-wing cross inside the first 15 minutes. However, the goal was ruled out for offside after a check by the assistant referee.
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Onazi Urges Super Eagles to Seize ‘Rare Chance’ at AFCON 2025 Former Nigeria midfielder Ogenyi Onazi has challenged the Super Eagles to make the most of what he describes as a rare opportunity at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, warning that failure to win the title would be a major disappointment for a squad filled with top-quality players. Nigeria, three-time African champions, have reached the quarter-finals of the tournament in Morocco and will face Algeria on Saturday. The Super Eagles have impressed so far, with strong performances driven by star attackers Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen. Onazi, who was part of Nigeria’s AFCON-winning team in 2013, believes the current squad has the quality and momentum to go all the way. “This generation of Super Eagles need to win the AFCON title for themselves,” Onazi said. “It will be a bit shameful for players of this calibre in the squad to not touch the AFCON trophy.” Nigeria’s attacking strength has been one of the standout features of the tournament. Lookman has been directly involved in several goals through both scoring and assists, while Osimhen has also delivered important goals and leadership up front. Onazi said winning the Africa Cup of Nations can be a defining moment in a footballer’s career and urged the players to remain focused on the task ahead. “When you win the AFCON, it gives you an edge in your career. It is one of the biggest trophies in the world,” he added. “It is good for the players and good for the country.” The former Lazio midfielder also stressed that the Super Eagles must not allow any distractions to derail their campaign, especially at such a crucial stage of the competition. His comments come after Nigeria experienced brief off-field issues earlier in the week, which led to concerns over preparations. Those matters have since been resolved, with the team travelling to Marrakech and resuming full training ahead of the quarter-final clash against Algeria. With renewed focus and confidence, the Super Eagles will be aiming to take another step towards lifting the AFCON trophy and meeting the high expectations placed on them.
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The Atlas Lions controlled possession in the first half but found it difficult to break down Tanzania’s compact defence. Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi both came close, but Morocco failed to record a shot on target before the break.
Tanzania, appearing in the knockout stages for the first time, stayed disciplined and calm, frustrating the home fans with their strong defensive display.
Morocco increased the tempo after half-time, and goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga was forced into an early save as he pushed away Abde Ezzalzouli’s close-range header.
Tanzania then missed a big chance to shock the hosts when Feisal Salum fired over the bar from a good position.
Achraf Hakimi hit the woodwork with a free-kick just after the hour mark as Morocco continued to apply pressure. The breakthrough finally came in the 64th minute when Díaz found space at the near post and squeezed his shot past Masalanga.
The goal settled Morocco, who managed the game well in the closing stages to secure a narrow but deserved win. Díaz has now scored four goals in four matches at the tournament.
Morocco will face either Cameroon or South Africa in the quarter-finals. Tanzania exit the competition with pride after a historic AFCON campaign.
