Hosts Morocco began their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign on a winning note with a 2–0 victory over Comoros in the tournament’s opening match on Sunday, thanks to second-half goals from Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi.
After a frustrating first half in which Soufiane Rahimi saw his early penalty saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, Morocco eventually broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the restart. Diaz fired home from close range at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat to give the Atlas Lions the lead.
Substitute El Kaabi sealed the win with a spectacular overhead kick, lifting the home crowd on a wet and chilly night and setting Morocco up well for tougher Group A fixtures against Mali and Zambia.
The result also extended Morocco’s world-record winning streak to 19 consecutive matches, reinforcing their status as Africa’s top-ranked team, currently 11th in the FIFA world rankings.
The match was watched by a crowd of 60,180, including Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan and FIFA President Gianni Infantino. Morocco captain Achraf Hakimi remained an unused substitute, with coach Walid Regragui opting to rest the Paris Saint-Germain full-back as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
Despite early resistance from Comoros—ranked 108th in the world—the visitors eventually succumbed after halftime. Noussair Mazraoui, starting at right-back, provided the assist for Diaz’s opener, while El Kaabi later dazzled with his acrobatic finish from a cross by Anass Salah-Eddine.
Morocco will face Mali on Friday, while Comoros turn their attention to their next group challenge. Elsewhere in the tournament, South Africa meet Angola, and Egypt, led by Mohamed Salah, begin their campaign against Zimbabwe in Group B.
The 2025 AFCON is the first edition to span two calendar years, with the final scheduled for January 18 in Rabat.
