Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi struck in the second half as hosts Morocco launched their Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-0 victory over Comoros in Sunday’s opening match.
After a frustrating first half in which Soufiane Rahimi saw his early penalty saved, Morocco finally made the breakthrough 10 minutes after the restart at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, with Diaz finishing from close range. Substitute El Kaabi then sealed the win in spectacular fashion, firing in a stunning overhead kick on a wet and chilly night.
The result puts the Atlas Lions in a strong position ahead of tougher Group A fixtures against Mali and Zambia, while also extending their world-record winning streak to 19 matches. Morocco, ranked 11th in the world and Africa’s highest-placed side in the FIFA rankings, played in front of a crowd of 60,180, with Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and FIFA president Gianni Infantino among the spectators.
Captain Achraf Hakimi remained an unused substitute as coach Walid Regragui opted to rest the Paris Saint-Germain full-back, who is still recovering from an ankle injury. Morocco were also forced into an early change when veteran defender Romain Saiss was taken off injured.
Comoros threatened an early upset when Rahimi’s 10th-minute penalty was saved by goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, and the visitors held firm for the rest of the first half. However, their resistance ended on 55 minutes when Noussair Mazraoui squared for Real Madrid playmaker Diaz to open the scoring.
Although Comoros, ranked 108th in the world, had a brief chance through Rafiki Said, Morocco soon asserted their dominance. Mazraoui forced another save from Pandor before El Kaabi, who plays for Olympiakos, capped the night with a magnificent bicycle kick from Anass Salah-Eddine’s cross.
Morocco next face Mali on Friday, while Comoros continue their Group A campaign against Zambia. Elsewhere on Monday, South Africa meet Angola in Marrakesh, and Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, begin their Group B campaign against Zimbabwe in Agadir.
This edition of the Africa Cup of Nations is the first to start in one year and conclude in the next, with the final scheduled for January 18 in Rabat.
