Morocco opened the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on a confident note, defeating Comoros 2-0 on Sunday night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium to kick off the continental showpiece.
The victory not only handed the hosts an early boost but also set the tone for a tournament they hope will end a nearly five-decade wait for continental glory.
After a tense first half, Brahim Díaz provided the breakthrough in the 55th minute. The Real Madrid midfielder calmly finished from close range, scoring the first goal of AFCON 2025 and sparking loud celebrations among home supporters.
Speaking after the goal, Díaz said the opener was symbolic. “Scoring the first goal of the tournament at home is special. It gave us belief and lifted the entire stadium,” he said.
Morocco doubled their advantage spectacularly midway through the second half.
Ayoub El Kaabi, who plays for Olympiacos, produced an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 74th minute, a strike many fans immediately tagged as a contender for goal of the tournament.
However, the scoreline did not fully reflect the difficulty of the contest. The Atlas Lions dominated possession early on but struggled to break down a disciplined Comoros side before halftime.
Moreover, Morocco missed a clear opportunity to go ahead when Soufiane Rahimi failed to convert from the penalty spot.
Comoros goalkeeper Pandor guessed correctly, pulling off a sharp save to keep the match level at the interval.
Comoros, making only their second appearance at the Africa Cup of Nations, impressed with their defensive structure.
The island nation absorbed sustained pressure and remained competitive for long spells.
Pandor, in particular, stood out with a series of saves that frustrated Morocco’s attackers.
“We came here to compete, not just to participate,” the goalkeeper said, despite the defeat.
Nevertheless, Morocco’s superior quality eventually told in the second half.
Once the first goal arrived, the hosts played with greater freedom and control.
The result also extended a long-standing AFCON trend. No host nation has lost its opening match at the tournament since Burkina Faso were beaten in 1998.
Ranked 11th in the world and currently Africa’s highest-ranked team, Morocco are targeting their first AFCON title since 1976.
Sunday’s performance further reinforced their status as one of the tournament favourites.
Following the opening fixture, Morocco sit top of Group A with three points.
Mali and Zambia, the other teams in the group, are set to face each other in the next match.
The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations will run until January 18, 2026, with 24 nations competing across six cities in Morocco, as the continent’s biggest football event gathers momentum.