Sports
Díaz and El Kaabi Fire Morocco to Winning Start at AFCON 2025
Rabat, Morocco – Morocco began their 2025 TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations campaign with a controlled 2–0 victory over Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on Sunday night.
Second-half goals from Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi were enough to settle a contest that proved more demanding than the scoreline suggested, as the hosts had to remain patient against a resilient Comorian side determined to frustrate them.
Match Summary
Morocco dominated possession from the outset, circulating the ball confidently and pinning Comoros deep in their own half. Despite controlling territory, clear chances were scarce early on, as the visitors defended compactly and contested every duel.
The first warning came within five minutes when Selemani capitalised on a loose touch in the Moroccan box, reminding the hosts of the fine margins on opening night. Morocco thought they had an early breakthrough when Brahim Díaz earned a penalty, but Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor guessed correctly to deny Soufiane Rahimi from the spot.
Morocco’s captain Romain Saïss suffered an early injury and was forced off, disrupting the home side’s rhythm. Despite the setback, Walid Regragui’s men continued to probe through set pieces and long-range efforts, with Ismaël Saibari heading narrowly wide and Azzedine Ounahi testing Pandor from distance.
Second Half Breakthrough
The deadlock was finally broken ten minutes after the restart. A sweeping move down the left ended with Noussair Mazraoui delivering a low cross into the box, where Brahim Díaz timed his run perfectly to finish beyond Pandor and spark celebrations.
With the opening goal, Morocco gained confidence and began to play with greater freedom. Comoros continued to battle but gaps appeared as the home side pressed.
The decisive moment came in the 73rd minute when substitute Ayoub El Kaabi produced a moment of brilliance, connecting with a delivery from Salah-Eddine with an acrobatic overhead kick that left the goalkeeper rooted and sealed the points.
From there, Morocco managed the game expertly, slowing the tempo and limiting Comoros to half-chances until the final whistle.
Post-Match Reactions
Stefano Cusin – Comoros Coach:
“We were solid defensively. But in this kind of game, when opportunity knocks, you have to take it. The team showed a good face, and Comorians can be proud of their country. Morocco are a great team; we have to accept defeat against such a side.”
Walid Regragui – Morocco Coach:
“We have been preparing for this game for a year and a half. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves. At half-time, I wasn’t very satisfied with the team, and we spoke to put certain adjustments in place, which the players applied very quickly.”
Standings
- Morocco tops Group A after the opening night, taking early control of their AFCON 2025 campaign.
- Comoros leave Rabat encouraged by their organization but still searching for a breakthrough moment on the continental stage.
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