Morocco's AFCON journey started with a hard-fought victory against Comoros, setting the stage for what promises to be an exciting tournament!
On December 22, 2025, the host nation, Morocco, kicked off the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a match against Comoros, a team considered the underdogs. The final score was 2-0 in favor of Morocco, but the game was far from a walkover.
Morocco, ranked a staggering 97 places above Comoros in the world rankings, faced a surprisingly resilient Comoros side. The match, played in the rain at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, saw Morocco struggle initially. Goals from Brahim Diaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi in the second half ultimately secured the win.
Morocco's victory wasn't as straightforward as expected. They missed an early penalty and were held scoreless in the first half despite dominating possession. The deadlock was broken in the 55th minute when Noussair Mazraoui's skillful play set up Diaz for the opening goal. El Kaabi then sealed the deal with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 74th minute, just 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute.
Comoros' goalkeeper, Yannick Pandor, put up a strong defense, making several crucial saves to keep the scoreline respectable. Comoros even had a chance to equalize shortly after Morocco's first goal, but their shot was saved.
Morocco's coach, Walid Regragui, acknowledged the difficulty of the opening game, stating, "The opening game is always difficult, but we came good in the second half."
Adding to the narrative, Morocco extended their record-breaking streak to 19 consecutive victories, surpassing Spain's previous record of 15 wins from 2008-2009. However, there was a moment of concern as captain Romain Saiss was forced off the field with an injury in the 18th minute.
The tournament continues with Mali and Zambia facing off in Casablanca. Also, Angola will meet South Africa in Marrakesh, and Mohamed Salah leads Egypt against Zimbabwe in Agadir.
What do you think about Morocco's performance? Do you believe they can live up to the expectations as the host nation?
