RABAT: Brahim Diaz scored his fourth goal for Morocco at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations to put the hosts into the quarter-finals with a nervous 1-0 Round-of-16 victory over Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday.
Morocco dominated possession but Tanzania had opportunities too, and it took a fine strike from Diaz to book a place in the last eight and a meeting with the winners of Sunday’s second fixture between South Africa and Cameroon.
Captain Achraf Hakimi fed Diaz on the right side of the box on 64 minutes and the Real Madrid playmaker worked his way to the byline, before firing into the goal from a tight angle when most expected a cross.
Morocco wasted several other chances but were also fortunate that Tanzania were wasteful too, with Simon Msuva and Feisal Salum missing gilt-edged opportunities for the East Africans with the score at 0-0.
It was a far from vintage performance from the home side, who have yet to click into top gear at the tournament but did enough to keep their campaign on track.
“The competition is hotting up and we faced our toughest opponent in this Tanzania team,” Diaz said.
“Not everything worked, we know that, but fortunately we managed to secure our qualification (to the next round). Now, we are going back to work to be fully ready for the quarter-finals.”
Tanzania had an early opportunity when Msuva had an open goal to head into, but he could only steer his effort well wide.
Morocco had the ball in the back of the net from Ismael Saibari’s header from a free kick but he was narrowly offside.
Ayoub El Kaabi then headed wide for the home side when he should have done better, and followed that up with another missed opportunity from Hakimi’s delightful cross.
Tanzania should have been ahead on 55 minutes as home goalkeeper Yassine Bounou could only parry a long-range shot and the ball fell to Salum, who blasted over the crossbar from 10 meters with the goal gaping.
Hakimi then crashed a free kick against the frame of the goal, before Morocco finally scored to settle the nerves in the Stade Moulay Abdellah.
Diaz delight as Morocco advance to AFCON quarter-finals
https://arab.news/ctmkq
Diaz delight as Morocco advance to AFCON quarter-finals
- Diaz scores for fourth game in a row
- Morocco book quarter-final place with 1-0 win
‘Fantastic 3 days’: Over 3,500 young footballers play in Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup
- Record-breaking seventh edition of region’s largest youth tournament attracted more than 8,000 people across 3 days
- U-16 Boys Cup winners Oman’s Al-Seeb win a trip to a City Football Group club, while U-14 Girls Plate winners, Singapore’s Resistencia, earn a 3-day coaching clinic from City Football Schools coaches in lucky draw
ABU DHABI: The seventh Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup has been hailed as a “fantastic three days” by a former club stalwart, with over 3,500 young boys and girls taking part at Zayed Sports City.
The region’s biggest annual youth football tournament had more than 244 teams from 18 countries including professional clubs Al-Jazira, Baniyas, Al-Wahda, Al-Ain, Melbourne City, and Manchester City.
Almost 8,000 spectators witnessed the action in the five age groups for boys, and three for girls.
Nedum Onuoha, former Manchester City defender and Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup ambassador, said: “It was a fantastic three days at the Manchester City Abu Dhabi Cup 2026.
“So many young boys and girls from around the world enjoyed this growing youth football platform. Beyond the results, the competitors played with smiles, expressing themselves, supporting one another, and creating memories that will stay with them long after the final whistle.
The eight cup competition winners were then placed in a draw to claim a trip to a City Football Group club, where they will train, and watch the first team in action.
Boys’ under-16 winners Al-Seeb were the lucky team drawn. It was a repeat success for the Oman team that won the same age group last year, and won a trip to Manchester, where they trained at the Etihad Campus and watched the men’s first team play.
Additionally, following a lucky draw, the under-14 Girls Plate winners —Singapore’s Resistencia FC — will receive a three-day football clinic from City Football Schools coaches.
For the first time, the tournament expanded to three days to accommodate the increasing demand from around the world, and delivered 2,562 goals in 1,435 matches.
Another expansion for this edition was the participation of 44 girls’ teams across three age groups, which showcased the game’s growth in the UAE, Middle East, and globally.
“The standard of football was exceptionally high,” Onuoha added. “As a former professional, I understand the importance of grassroots football.
“Tournaments like the Abu Dhabi Cup play a vital role in nurturing the next generation of footballers, providing young players with valuable opportunities to learn, grow, and test themselves in a competitive environment.”
Players, coaches, and families also got the chance to watch Manchester City’s 10-1 victory against Exeter City in the FA Cup third-round clash.
Simon Hewitt, head of operations in the Middle East and North Africa, City Football Group and the tournament director, said the contest shows how the game “unites people from all over the world.
“Young people of varying ages and nationalities came together, had fun, learned about different cultures, and played some great football.”
