Hosts Morocco kicked off their TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2025 campaign with a solid 2–0 victory over Comoros at the Moulay Abdellah Sports Complex in Rabat, Nigeriasoccernet.com reports.
The Atlas Lions had to overcome early nerves after missing a first-half penalty, but eventually asserted their dominance with two second-half goals inside 19 minutes, courtesy of Brahim Díaz and a spectacular strike from substitute Ayoub El Kaabi.
Morocco was handed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 10th minute when Brahim Díaz was brought down inside the box. However, Soufiane Rahimi failed to convert from the spot, with Comoros goalkeeper Pandor making a fine save to deny the Atlas Lions the opening goal of the tournament.
Despite sustained pressure, the score remained goalless at the break. Pandor continued to frustrate the hosts, denying Díaz again from 12 yards, while Saibari narrowly missed the target from a tight angle in the 30th minute. Comoros held firm deep into the first half, surviving a VAR review in the 43rd minute, which overturned another potential penalty for Morocco due to a prior handball.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 55th minute when Brahim Díaz latched onto an Achraf Hakimi cross and calmly finished from close range to put Morocco ahead.
Comoros nearly stayed in the contest as Pandor pulled off an excellent double save in the 63rd minute to keep the deficit at one goal. However, the resistance was broken in the 74th minute when Ayoub El Kaabi produced a moment of magic, scoring with an acrobatic bicycle kick to double the hosts’ advantage.
Pandor continued his impressive display late on, denying Youssef En-Nesyri from distance in the 82nd minute, but Morocco comfortably saw out the contest to claim all three points.
The victory marks Morocco’s seventh win in their last 20 AFCON opening matches and gives the Atlas Lions a confident start to the tournament on home soil.
Uche Dozie