RABAT, Morocco — The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) commenced with a mixture of celebration and relief for the host nation as Morocco secured a hard-fought 2-0 victory over a resilient Comoros side.
Amidst a torrential downpour at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, the Atlas Lions overcame early nerves and injury setbacks to satisfy a capacity crowd of over 60,000 expectant fans.
The tone was set just 11 minutes into the match when Morocco was awarded a penalty after Iyad Mohamed brought down Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz in the area.
However, Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor momentarily dampened the home spirits, producing a spectacular save with his left knee to deny Soufiane Rahimi from the spot.
The “Indian Ocean islanders” maintained a disciplined defensive block for much of the first half, frustrating the tournament favorites. It took until the 55th minute for the deadlock to break.
Noussair Mazraoui delivered a clinical low cross into the box, finding an unmarked Brahim Diaz who swept the ball home, triggering a deafening roar from the 60,180 supporters in attendance.
Sensational finishing and injury concerns
The match opened up significantly following the goal. Comoros forward Rafiki Said forced a critical save from Yassine Bounou, while Pandor continued his heroics at the other end to deny Mazraoui.
The points were finally made safe 15 minutes before the whistle when substitute Ayoub El Kaabi executed a breathtaking overhead kick, a goal destined for the tournament’s highlight reels.
Despite the triumph, Walid Regragui’s side faces growing injury concerns. Captain Achraf Hakimi remained an unused substitute due to a persistent ankle injury sustained with Paris St-Germain, and veteran center-back Romain Saiss was forced off early in the opening half.
A record-breaking foundation
The victory marks a historic milestone for Morocco, extending their world-record run to 19 consecutive international victories.
This momentum is vital as the kingdom seeks its first continental crown since 1976. The pressure on Regragui is immense, a fact the coach has openly embraced.
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“Anything other than victory will be a failure,” Regragui admitted prior to the match, acknowledging that Morocco’s recent semi-final run at the 2022 World Cup has set a new gold standard for the program.
Tournament outlook
While Morocco savors the opening three points, a stiffer challenge awaits on Friday against a formidable Mali side.
Elsewhere in Group A, West African heavyweights take on Zambia this Monday, while the footballing giants of Egypt and South Africa begin their respective campaigns in Group B.
Off the pitch, the tournament marks a new era for African football. On the eve of the finals, it was confirmed that AFCON will transition to a quadrennial (every four years) format starting in 2028.
For now, however, all eyes remain on King Mohammed VI’s kingdom as it balances the hosting of this tournament with its future ambitions for the 2030 World Cup.
