Hosts Morocco opened their TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025 campaign with a composed 2–0 victory over Comoros at a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night.
Second-half goals from Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the win in a contest that proved tougher than the scoreline suggests, as Comoros put up a disciplined and resilient performance.
Morocco dominated possession from the outset, circulating the ball confidently and pinning Comoros deep in their own half. Despite their control, clear chances were initially hard to come by, with the visitors defending in numbers and staying compact.
Comoros offered an early warning inside five minutes when Selemani capitalised on a loose touch in the Moroccan box, briefly unsettling the hosts.
The Atlas Lions had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Brahim Díaz won a penalty following a driving run into the area. However, Yannick Pandor produced a fine save to deny Soufiane Rahimi, momentarily disrupting Morocco’s momentum. Still, the hosts continued to apply pressure, with Ismaël Saibari and Azzedine Ounahi both testing the Comorian defence from range and set pieces.
Morocco suffered a setback late in the first half when captain Romain Saïss was forced off after a heavy collision. Despite territorial dominance, Walid Regragui’s side went into the break frustrated, held scoreless by a stubborn Comoros backline.
The breakthrough arrived ten minutes into the second half. A low cross from Noussair Mazraoui found Brahim Díaz, who timed his run perfectly and calmly slotted past Pandor to ignite celebrations in Rabat.
With the pressure lifted, Morocco found more space, though Comoros continued to battle. The match was effectively decided in the 73rd minute when substitute Ayoub El Kaabi delivered a moment of brilliance, acrobatically converting Salah-Eddine’s cross with a spectacular overhead kick.
Morocco comfortably managed the closing stages, controlling possession and limiting Comoros to a few clear openings until the final whistle.
While not a flamboyant display, it was a professional, efficient start for one of the tournament favourites — exactly the kind of performance expected from the hosts as they set their sights on continental glory.
By Prince Tuffuor
