The Morocco vs Tanzania prediction article, breaks down form, key players and H2H meetings ahead of the clash.
The game will take place on Sunday, January 4 at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah.
Kick off set for 7pmpm EAT / 5pm local time.

Hosts Morocco continue their Africa Cup of Nations journey this Sunday with a Round of 16 clash against Tanzania, a fixture that pits one of the tournament favourites against one of its most heart-warming underdog stories.

With a place in the quarter-finals on the line, expectations are firmly on the Atlas Lions, while Tanzania arrive with little pressure and plenty of belief after rewriting their own history.

Morocco entered the tournament as pre-competition front-runners and have so far lived up to that billing.

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Morocco vs Tanzania preview

The 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists topped Group A without tasting defeat, collecting two wins and a draw to progress comfortably into the knockout phase.

Their most eye-catching display came in a commanding 3-0 victory over Zambia, a performance that underlined their attacking quality and tactical maturity.

Despite the convincing nature of that win, head coach Walid Regragui has been quick to urge restraint. Speaking ahead of the Tanzania match, the Moroccan tactician stressed the importance of remaining grounded and cautious against Taifa Stars.

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“We must respect Tanzania. They have a strong league and players who are plying their trade abroad.

There are no small teams at AFCON. You lose one match and you are out — this stage leaves absolutely no room for mistakes.” — Walid Regragui.

Morocco are chasing a first AFCON title since 1976, and victory here would move them a step closer to ending that long wait, while also marking their fifth appearance in the quarter-finals of the competition.

Tanzania, meanwhile, have already achieved something unprecedented.

The Taifa Stars qualified for the AFCON knockout stages for the first time in their 45-year history, progressing as one of the four best third-placed teams despite failing to register a win.

They opened their campaign with a narrow 2-1 defeat to Nigeria before earning a 1-1 draw against regional rivals Uganda. A hard-fought stalemate with Tunisia in their final group match proved enough to secure progression.

Head coach Miguel Ángel Gamondi reflected warmly on his connection to African football and previous stint in Morocco as a coach ahead of the encounter.

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

There is a big difference between Tanzania and Morocco. Personally, part of my life is also connected to Morocco. I know Walid (Regragui) very well. I remember when I was at FUS Rabat, he used to trouble me a lot tactically. He is a very good coach, and we challenged each other many times during our growth as coaches.” he added.

Morocco vs Tanzania team news

Morocco received a major boost with the return of Achraf Hakimi, who made a second-half appearance against Zambia after two months on the sidelines.

Whether the reigning African Footballer of the Year is ready to start remains uncertain. Romain Saïss, however, remains a doubt after suffering a muscle injury in the opening group game.

Up front, Ayoub El Kaabi has been one of the standout performers of the tournament, scoring three goals in three matches, including a strike that remains a contender for goal of the tournament.

Tanzania have no new injury concerns and are expected to field the same starting XI that faced Tunisia.

Captain Mbwana Samatta is still searching for his first goal of the competition but is set to lead the attack, supported by Simon Msuva, Faisal Salum and Haji Mnoga.

Morocco vs Predicted Line-ups

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

Morocco vs Tanzania head to head record and key stats

Morocco have won seven of the eight meetings between the two sides, including the last five in a row.
Tanzania’s only victory came in a 2014 World Cup qualifier, and they have never kept a clean sheet against Morocco.
This is their second AFCON meeting, following Morocco’s 3-0 win at the 2023 tournament.
Morocco have conceded first in all three of their previous AFCON Round of 16 matches.
Tanzania progressed with just two points, the lowest total since best third-placed teams were introduced in 2019.
The Taifa Stars remain winless after 12 AFCON matches, a record tied with Guinea-Bissau.