AFCON 2025: Brahim Diaz Wins MOTM as Morocco Grind Past Tanzania

Morocco’s march toward the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations 2025 title continued on Sunday night, but not without resistance, as the Atlas Lions edged a resilient Tanzanian side 1–0 in their Round of 16 clash at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The night belonged to Brahim Diaz, whose second-half strike separated both teams and earned him the TotalEnergies Man of the Match award, reinforcing his rising influence in the tournament.

Despite Morocco entering the fixture as heavy favorites, Tanzania—playing in their first-ever AFCON knockout match—delivered a disciplined and tactically mature performance that frustrated the hosts for long periods.

Morocco dominated possession from kickoff, recycling the ball patiently across midfield, probing for gaps in a compact Tanzanian defensive block marshaled by their center-backs and shielded by a hardworking midfield trio.

However, clear-cut chances were scarce in the first 45 minutes, with Tanzania occasionally breaking forward through swift counterattacks, forcing Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou into moments of alert distribution and positioning.

The deadlock finally broke after halftime, when Diaz latched onto a well-timed pass at the edge of the box, glided past a defender with a clever touch, and fired a composed finish beyond Tanzania’s goalkeeper to send Rabat into eruption.

Tanzania refused to collapse, pushing for an equalizer with renewed urgency.

They nearly leveled late in the game from a set-piece, but Morocco held firm, absorbing pressure while managing the tempo to protect their lead.

Speaking after the match, Diaz acknowledged the challenge posed by the East Africans.

“The competition is growing in intensity and we have just faced our toughest opposition so far against this Tanzanian team,” he said.

“Not everything worked, we know that, but fortunately we managed to secure our qualification.

“Now we will go back to work to be fully ready for the quarter-finals.”

Morocco’s head coach Miguel echoed the sentiment in his post-match briefing, praising Tanzania’s structure while emphasizing that tougher battles await.

“They came with a clear plan and executed it well. We expected intensity but they exceeded expectations.

“We must improve if we want to compete at the level required in the quarter-finals,” Miguel stated.

The victory books Morocco’s place in the AFCON 2025 quarter-finals, where tactical sharpness, mental resilience, and individual brilliance—like that of Brahim Diaz—will be crucial.

For Tanzania, the defeat ends a historic campaign that saw them defy odds to reach the knockouts for the first time, winning admirers across the continent for their fearless but organized approach.

As the tournament heat intensifies, Morocco will now turn inward—reviewing their performance, tightening transitions, and refining attacking fluidity—knowing that the margin for error is shrinking.

And if their quest for glory is to continue, they may once again need their MOTM hero, Brahim Diaz, to unlock the moments that matter most.