Host nation Morocco secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Comoros in the opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday. Goals from Brahim Diaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi in the second half gave the hosts a winning start to the month-long tournament.

Despite Morocco’s strong reputation and a 97-place advantage in the FIFA world rankings, the team struggled to break down resilient Comoros, showing that even minnows can challenge African football heavyweights.

First Half: Morocco Misses Early Chances

Morocco dominated possession early on and were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute after Comoros defender Iyad Mohamed fouled Diaz in the box. However, Soufiane Rahimi’s spot kick struck goalkeeper Yannick Pandor on the knee and went wide, leaving Morocco goalless at halftime.

Comoros goalkeeper Pandor made several outstanding saves, keeping the score level and frustrating the home crowd despite Morocco’s clear superiority. The team’s opening half highlighted the pressure of expectations on the hosts.

Second Half: Diaz and El Kaabi Seal the Win

Morocco eventually broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, as Noussair Mazraoui prevented the ball from leaving the pitch and squared it to Diaz, who calmly side-footed home. The breakthrough was followed by Ayoub El Kaabi’s spectacular bicycle kick in the 74th minute, 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute, securing a 2-0 victory.

Despite their ranking disadvantage, Comoros remained competitive throughout, creating at least one clear chance after Diaz’s goal, with Rafiki Said firing straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Player Concerns and Injuries

Morocco coach Walid Regragui expressed satisfaction with his team’s second-half performance but faced a setback as captain Romain Saiss limped off in tears after just 18 minutes due to an ankle injury. Saiss had only recently returned to international football after a year-long absence following surgery.

Morocco’s Record-Breaking Run

The victory extended Morocco’s national team winning streak to 19 successive matches, surpassing the previous record of 15 set by Spain between 2008-09.

Upcoming AFCON Fixtures

The next Group A match sees Mali face Zambia on Monday in Casablanca. Group B action includes Angola vs South Africa in Marrakesh and Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, against Zimbabwe in Agadir.