Morocco's forward Ayoub El Kaabi celebrates his stunning overhead kick goal during the Africa Cup of Nations Group A match between Morocco and Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on December 21, 2025

Africa Mug of Countries (AFCON) organizes Morocco conquered a nervy begin to beat the Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s opening up video game on Sunday, after Brahim Diaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi racked up second-half objectives.

It was a far-from-convincing showing from the highly liked Morocco, that are ⁠97 places over the small Indian Sea island country worldwide positions and needed to work hard for the ​points in the rainfall at Rabat’s Royal prince Moulay Abdellah Arena.

Morocco squandered a very early charge and ‍were goalless at halftime, despite controling property, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 55th min, when Noussair Mazraoui succeeded to maintain the sphere from going from play before passing it settle for Diaz to side-foot home.

El Kaabi racked up a hallmark bike kick objective ‍in the 74th ⁠minute, 10 mins after beginning as a substitute, to ease the stress.

Morocco looked at first to be labouring under a hefty concern of assumption, and tiny Comoros comfortably held them away before the superior firepower of the organizes made certain success.

The organizes could have been in advance as very early as the 11th min after a soft charge was granted for a difficulty by Iyad Mohamed on Diaz. But Soufiane Rahimi hit the spot kick straight down the center, striking the knee of goalkeeper Yannick Pandor and watching the sphere loophole away ​to safety.

 

youb El Kaabi scores Morocco’s second goal in the 74th minute

 

But they eventually damaged down the resistance, as Diaz obtained deserved benefits for ‌his consistent penetrating and El Kaabi’s objective made certain a reputable scoreline.

Pandor made several various other great quits to maintain down ball game in the shutting stages as his colleagues started to tire, although Comoros had a possibility for an equaliser 4 mins after Diaz’s objective, but Rafiki Said ‌shot straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou in their first chance of the suit.

Morocco extended their record-breaking run of succeeding success by a nationwide group to 19. In October, they went previous the previous best of 15, set by Spain from 2008-09.

There will be concern in the home camp, however, after captain Romain Saiss limped off after 18 mins, with the centre ‌back leaving the area in rips. He invested the first fifty percent of the year sidelined by ankle joint surgical treatment and just last month returned to the nationwide side after a year’s lack.

Mali and Zambia fulfill on Monday in the next ‍Group A clash in Casablanca on the second day of the monthlong competition. There are also 2 Team B suits as Angola fulfill Southern Africa in Marrakesh, and Mohamed Salah leads Egypt versus Zimbabwe in Agadir.