Morocco opened their account of the Africa Cup of Nations with a battling 2-nil win over a stubborn Comoros on Sunday.
The Comoros are 104 globally and 24th in Africa on the latest FIFA rankings.
Goals from Brahim Diaz ten and Ayoub El Kaabi in the second half half settled the nerves of thousands of Moroccan fans at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat after a frustrating first half during which the Comoros defended valiantly.
Beginning the match as overwhelming favourites, the Atlas Lions ranked No 1 on the FIFA Africa rankings and 11th globally vercame earlier setbacks through a missed penalty on seven minutes, and the injury to team captain and centre-back Romain Saiss who was forced off before half time.
With over 80 percent of the ball in the first half, the 2022 World Cup semifinalists were left feeling furstrated by dogged defending from the Comoros who looked well drilled and restricted the hosts to long range shots which failed to trouble keeper Yannick Pandor who saved a Soufiane Rahimi penalty.
However, Morocco were duly rewarded after the restart with a sidefooted finish by Diaz after being set up by Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui six yards out on 55 minutes. This prompted the Comorans to open up in search of an equalizer which almost arrived after Rafiki Said disposessed Sofyan Amrabat and charges inside the box before releasing a goal bound effort which the Atlas Lion goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was equal to.
With Morocco living dangerously as Comoros showed more attacking intent, El Kaabi provided a moment of individual brilliance with an sweet overhead kick which beat a stranded Pandor 16 minutes from time to settle the nerves and confirm victory for the home side who last won AfCON in 1976.
Morocco’s other Group A opponents Mali and Zambia face off on Monday.
24 national teams are participating in the 35th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations which ends with the final on January 18, 2026.
Earlier on Sunday the official opening ceremony took place at Rabat’s Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah.
It was a spectacular opening ceremony, broadcast live for millions of global viewers.
Themes of the ceremony revolved around African pride and respect for disparate cultures across generations.
This occasion was presided over by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan in the presence of FIFA President Giovanni Infantino, CAF President Patrice Motsepe.
Comoros President Azali Assoumani, and the head of the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Faouzi Lekjaa were also present.
The Moroccan organisers of AfCON say they have pulled out all the stops to making one of football’s greatest theatres a memorable event.
The Maghrebi kingdom of 38.8 million people has caught the eye in more ways than one including far reaching infrastructural makeover linked to the Africa Cup of Nations, the second time it will host it after the 1988 edition. The tournament should have come to the kingdom in 2015 but an ebola epidemic that year prompted one of the Maghreb’s most prosperous nations to stand down with Equatorial Guinea taking over as host.
Ten years after missing out on hosting one of the standout tournaments in the global sporting calender, Morocco has announced that it was ready to play host to some of the biggest names in African football and set the stage for the most memorable episodes in the competition’s illustrious history.
The euphoric feeling among the local organisers and most Moroccan fans of the sport is that the quality of the games is going to be one for the ages, the organisation just as epic for which the gods of football will forever be grateful to Morocco.
WN/as/APA