Morocco Triumphs in 2025 AFCON Opener with a 2-0 Victory over Comoros
The 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) started on a positive note with the host nation getting off to a flying start with a 2-0 victory over Comoros.
The match, which marked the opening of the 2025 AFCON, was played on a rainy night at Rabat’s new stadium, the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, on Sunday evening.
The first half wasn’t really exciting, as both teams were testing their strengths. In the 11th minute, Al Ain’s forward, Soufiane Rahimi, from Morocco, squandered a penalty chance that should have put the host nation in front.
Romain Saiss, the Atlas Lion’s captain, went off injured after 18 minutes in a flood of tears after an innocuous push. No updates yet on how severe the injury is, but from Romain’s reactions, it might be serious enough to end his AFCON campaign with Morocco.
In the 43rd minute, Brahim Díaz had his goal overturned by VAR and then went on to be booked with a yellow card in the 45th minute for a rash tackle on a Comoros defender.
Real Madrid and Morocco’s attacking midfielder, Brahim Díaz, executed a clean finish from a cross to put the host nation ahead in the 55th minute of the second half.
Soufiane Rahimi’s substitute, Ayoub El Kaabi, came on to score a beautiful overhead kick to put Morocco 2-0 up against Comoros in the 74th minute. The goal erupted into a roar in the stadium as the host fans showed their appreciation for the goal from El Kaabi.
Take flight. Land. Celebrate your way. Ayoub El Kaabi. 😮💨🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/NotNWloYWB
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 21, 2025
El Kaabi’s goal capped Morocco’s dominance and sealed the three points in their AFCON Group Stage opener.
Despite winning the first match, Morocco’s captain, Romain Saiss, stressed that the team still has a lot to do to improve their gameplay.
Saiss said, “Not everything was perfect. But it’s a first match,” the defender said. “I know we’re going to grow stronger. There were many good things. We’ll work, recover, and analyze this game and then turn our focus to the second match against Mali.”
Former Moroccan international and football analyst AbdelAziz Bineej stated that the host nation is now ready to take on the world through its sport activities.
Bineej said, “After many years, Morocco has prepared this event with high-level infrastructure and a high-level stadium. Everything is set up for the crowd. Everybody will live a great, great Africa Cup.”
“Morocco deserves to be one of the best national teams in the world,” AbdelAziz Bineej continued. “Being ranked 10th or 11th in the FIFA rankings is a great honor. They deserve it, so now they have to prove it in the Africa Cup. It’s another story.”
“All the opponents are waiting for this event, also to beat the Moroccan team, which has many big players abroad, in the big teams. Other opponents also have big players. Now it’s about the pressure: how the national team will handle it, stay positive, and have the strength to win the Africa Cup.
“They need this pressure to be focused on the target, which is to win the Africa Cup, because they deserve it. They are working on sports under the leadership of His Majesty Mohammed VI, and we see all the achievements of Moroccan football and sports, so they deserve to win the Africa Cup.”
Shining brightest in his first match.
Brahim Diaz is the TotalEnergies Man of the Match in the #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 opener. 🇲🇦✨@Football2Gether pic.twitter.com/ntOzu2rIfd
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 21, 2025
Brahim Diaz went on to win the man of the match for his goal and several attacking contributions that kept the Comoros defenders on their toes.
Morocco have underlined their status as early favorites, but the coming weeks will reveal whether they can carry the weight of expectations all the way to the final on 17 January.
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