Morocco cruised past Tanzania 1-0 to progress to the quarter-finals at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah. Morocco controlled the game, and Brahim Diaz proved the difference between the two, becoming the first-ever Moroccan to score four AFCON goals in successive matches.
Tanzania missed a golden opportunity to cause a major upset just three minutes into the game, as striker Selemani Abdallah burst down the right-hand side and chipped a cross across the face of goal, taking goalkeeper Yassine Bounou out the game, but fellow striker Simon Msuva was unable to reposition himself quick enough, his header was desperate and unable to direct the ball into the empty net.
Morocco took their time to settle into the game, attempting to control possession but unable to handle the tempo Tanzania wanted to apply to the game. In the opening 10 minutes, Tanzania looked sharper, with Morocco making a series of uncharacteristic mistakes.
But Morocco rode the wave well, having won a foul just outside of the box. A whipped cross from winger Abde Ezzalzouli found midfielder Ismael Saibari, who knocked the ball over the goalkeeper Hussein Masalanga and into the back of the net. The linesman’s flag was instantly raised, and VAR confirmed the decision, but offered a needed reminder of the host nation’s quality.
Morocco’s confidence grew after the ruled-out goal, putting together some lovely passing combinations and finding their rhythm. A cross in the 18th minute provoked Masalanga to try and claim the ball, but the goalkeeper missed the ball entirely and instead clattered striker Ayoub El Kaabi. Both men required medical attention before play could resume.
Despite all of Morocco’s first-half dominance, they were unable to make it count. Morocco’s 72% first-half possession translated to five efforts, but Morocco were unable to test the goalkeeper, with all five of the efforts being off target. The half finished goalless.
Four minutes into the second half, Masalanga made a terrific save, the first save of the game, to keep Morocco out from point-blank range. The goalkeeper turned a headed shot from inside the six-yard box around the post to keep it scoreless.
Morocco created chance after chance. Fullback Achraf Hakimi burst down the line and provided a great opportunity for El Kaabi, who headed the effort wide from the centre of the six-yard box, 55 minutes into the game.
Moments later, Tanzania had a rare chance to score. Midfielder Mohamed Hussein struck the ball with venom, and Bounou spilt the catch. The loose ball was pounced on by multiple Tanzanian players in the box, but it was turned over the bar. What a chance it was for Tanzania, against the run of play.
On the stroke of an hour, Hakimi struck the woodwork from a free kick just outside the box. The ball rattled the woodwork and piled even more pressure onto Tanzania, who were now holding on for dear life.
The pressure finally broke Tanzania. Winger Brahim Diaz found the net in the 64th minute, receiving the ball from Hakimi just inside the box. He beat his man and shot from an acute angle, beating the goalkeeper at his near post. The ball crept past the outstretched hand of Masalanga and beat the keeper at the bottom corner.
After the goal, Morocco’s offence dipped in intensity. They were no longer desperately chasing a goal. Instead, they allowed themselves more time on the ball before creating chances. Tanzania were forced to contest the game outside of their own third. However, after the goal, both teams played as if they now knew the game was over.
Frustration set in, and defender Dickson Job went flying off his feet in the 89th minute to tackle Ezzalzouli and went into the book. Job was lucky VAR decided not to review the situation, as he could have been sent off and relieved of his duties.
In added time, Tanzania pumped long balls forward, but none of them remotely close to a teammate, and all trickled out for a goal kick. Desperation had set in, Iddy Nado went to ground in the box chasing after a loose ball after Adam Masina rested his arm on the attacker’s back.
The referee was forced to book members of the Tanzania coaching staff after protests crossed the line, whilst the players on the pitch seemed far less convinced it was a penalty.
