The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations got off to a sensational start as hosts Morocco cruised to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Comoros in Sunday’s opening match at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.
After a tense first half in which goalkeeper Yannick Pandor missed Soufiane Rahimi’s penalty, patience finally paid off for the Atlas Lions. Real Madrid playmaker Brahim Díaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, calmly slotting home from inside the box after a superb run by Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui.
The home crowd erupted once again when second-half substitute Ayoub El Kaabi sealed the victory with a stunning bicycle kick, a contender for goal of the tournament, sending the stadium into a frenzy despite the rainy and chilly conditions.
Morocco extended its record winning streak to 19 consecutive matches, continuing the historic run of Africa’s highest-ranked national team and one of the favorites to win the Africa Cup of Nations.
Over 60,000 fans watched the match from the stands, including FIFA President Gianni Infantino and Crown Prince Moulay Hassan, who rarely appeared on the pitch before kick-off.
To everyone’s surprise, captain Achraf Hakimi remained on the bench as he continues his recovery from an ankle injury sustained in November in Paris.
Comoros fought valiantly and frustrated Morocco for a long time, but this result certainly prepares the hosts for more difficult Group A matches against Mali and Zambia.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations continues on Monday with Mali facing Zambia in Casablanca, while South Africa will face Angola and Egypt, seeking their first title since 2010, face Zimbabwe in Group B.
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