Morocco v Tanzania: Line-ups, stats and preview

Morocco v Tanzania match preview

Pre-tournament front-runners and hosts Morocco will go into their Africa Cup of Nations Round of 16 clash with Tanzania as heavy favourites to progress to the quarter-finals.

The history-making 2022 World Cup semi-finalists are unbeaten in the competition so far, winning two and drawing one of their opening matches to top Group A.

Tanzania, despite not winning a game, qualified to the knockout phase for the first time in their 45-year tournament history as one of the best third-placed teams.

The Atlas Lions will therefore be expected to progress as they aim to claim what would be a first AFCON tournament triumph in almost half a century.

However, Morocco boss Walid Regragui warned against complacency following his side’s recent 3-0 win over Zambia.

“We are improving, but we must keep our feet on the ground,” said Regragui. “No arrogance, no excess enthusiasm, just focus and unity.”

For Tanzania head coach Miguel Angel Gamondi, he paid a glowing tribute to African football, highlighting the role the continent has played in shaping his career.

“For me it’s a special pleasure to be in Morocco,” Gamondi said. “Africa is one place that has really contributed richly to my coaching career. I have spent more than 25 years coaching in Africa and to this day, I will always be an advocate for African football.”

The East Africans will start the game as fierce underdogs. They suffered a 2-1 loss in their opener against Nigeria before sharing the spoils with neighbours, Uganda in a 1-1 draw.

In their final group game, they held Tunisia to a 1-1 stalemate to progress as one of the four best third-placed teams.

Team news for Morocco v Tanzania

The Atlas Lions were handed a huge boost in their final group game, welcoming back full-back and reigning African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi after two months out with injury.

The PSG star was as a second-half substitute in the win over Zambia, however, it remains to be seen whether the 27-year-old will be fit enough to start the match.

Romain Saiss suffered a muscle injury in Morocco’s first game of the competition, and has not featured since, making the likelihood of him featuring here doubtful.

Ayoub El Kaabi has made a strong case to play from the start against Tanzania after the Olympiacos striker netted three goals in the same number of matches – one of which remains a contender for goal of the tournament.

Tanzania have no fresh injury news and are expected to name the same team that started the game against Tunisia.

Mbwana Samatta, who is yet to find the back of the net in this competition, is expected to lead the line with support from Simon Msuva, Faisal Salum and Haji Mnoga.

Predicted line-ups for Morocco v Tanzania

Morocco: Bono; Salah-Eddine, El Yamiq, Aguerd, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, El Aynaoui; Saibari, El Kaabi, Diaz

Tanzania: Masalanga; Hussein, Hamad, Nwamnyeto, Job; Miroshi, Msanga; Msuva, Salum, Mnoga; Samatta

Stats for Morocco v Tanzania

• The two sides have met eight times in all competitions, with Morocco winning seven, including the last five in succession.
• Tanzania have recorded just one victory over Morocco in their history – a 3-1 win in a 2014 World Cup qualifier – but they have never kept a clean sheet against the Atlas Lions.
• This is the second AFCON meeting between the two nations, following their group-stage encounter at the 2023 edition, which Morocco won 3-0.
• Morocco have conceded first in all three of their previous AFCON Round of 16 matches.
• Victory would take Morocco to the quarter-finals for the fifth time (1998, 2004, 2017, 2021).
• Tanzania’s progression with two points is the lowest total for a team advancing since best third-placed teams were introduced in 2019.
• The Taifa Stars remain winless after 12 AFCON matches, a record tied with Guinea-Bissau for the longest winless run by a team in the competition.

Prediction

How to watch Morocco v Tanzania: TV channel, live online stream

Kick-off on Sunday is at 16:00 UK time. In the UK, live AFCON 2025 coverage is on Channel 4’s 4seven, All 4 and YouTube channel. In the USA, beIN Sports is the tournament broadcaster.

Online live streaming is available on a vast range of devices through Channel 4’s website and app and the beIN Sports app.

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