Hosts Morocco made a winning start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), securing a comprehensive 2-0 victory over Comoros in the tournament’s opening fixture at the Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah on Sunday, Bold Sports reports.
Despite a goalless first half in which Comoros successfully kept the Atlas Lions at bay, the hosts eventually broke through after the interval, delighting a packed stadium with second-half goals from Brahim Díaz and Ayoub El Kaabi to seal the victory.
Morocco began the contest on the front foot and were handed an early opportunity to take the lead after Brahim Díaz was brought down in the box. However, Soufiane Rahimi’s penalty was brilliantly saved by goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, ensuring the score remained level.
Morocco continued to push for the opener, dominating possession throughout the first half, but struggled to create clear-cut opportunities against a resilient Comoros defense. Despite their control of the game, the hosts managed only a single shot on target before the break.
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Walid Regragui’s side carried their dominance into the second half and finally broke the deadlock in the 55th minute. Noussair Mazraoui delivered a precise pass to Brahim Díaz, who slotted a first-time strike into the net, breaking Comoros’ stubborn resistance.
Morocco extended their advantage in the 74th minute when substitute Ayoub El Kaabi netted a spectacular goal, sending the ball into the back of the net with a stunning bicycle kick that left Comoros reeling and effectively sealed the victory.
The win sees Morocco kick off their tournament with a perfect three points, placing them top of Group A. The Atlas Lions will next face Mali on Friday, December 26. Comoros, meanwhile, will be seeking their first points of the campaign when they take on Zambia on the same day.
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