EL Kaabi’s Stunner Sees Morocco Open AFCON With Victory

The host nation, Morocco, kicked off the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a convincing 2-0 win over Comoros at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday evening.

This was the second time these nations faced each other in the AFCON, as they faced each other in the opening game in January 2022, which was held in Cameroon, and Morocco won 2-0. Selim Amallah scored in the 16th minute, and Zakaria Aboukhlal added a second in the 83rd minute.

Notably, coach Walid Regragui of Morocco benched captain Achraf Hakimi, who didn’t start the game despite the 27-year-old revealing before the game that he was fit.

The Paris Saint-Germain right-back, who was named the African Player of the Year and UEFA Champions League 2025 winner, had not played since coming off with a left ankle injury in a Champions League game against Bayern Munich on 4 November.

Hakimi left the field in tears in that game, probably fearing for his chances of featuring at the AFCON. The injury was later diagnosed as a severe sprain.

Despite Hakimi starting on the bench, Morocco started this game on a high note, creating many chances in the first 20 minutes of the game, and they fortunately earned a penalty in the 10th minute after Comoros’ Iyad Mohamed fouled Brahim Diaz inside the 18-yard box.

Unfortunately for Morocco, Yannick Pandor saved Soufiane Rahimi’s right-footed penalty shot in the bottom left corner.

After that penalty, Morocco suffered a blow as Romain Saiss got injured and was replaced by Jawad El Yamiq in the 19th minute.

Despite the injury, Morocco continued to play well, trying to open the scoring, and they almost got a goal in the 30th minute, but unfortunately, Ismael Saibari’s right-footed shot from the left side of the box, assisted by Sofyan Amrabat following a set-piece situation, was not successful.

In the 43rd minute, Morocco complained to the referee that they had to be awarded a penalty, and the Video Assistant Referee had to intervene.

However, instead of awarding Morocco a penalty, the VAR ruled that Diaz had made a handball, and Comoros was awarded a free kick in their defensive half.

Immediately after that incident, Comoros got their first chance of the game, but unfortunately for them, Youssouf M’Changama’s right-footed shot from more than 35 yards was saved by the goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, and the first half ended 0-0.

In the second half, Morocco started the first 15 minutes very well, creating many scoring opportunities, and they fortunately got the opening goal in the 55th minute through Real Madrid attacking midfielder Brahim Diaz with a right-footed shot from the center of the box to make it 1-0.

Coach Walid Regragui’s men continued to push, searching for more goals, and they got the second goal in the 74th minute through Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored a bicycle kick with a left-footed shot from the center of the box to make it 2-0.

Morocco continued searching for another goal in the last minutes of the game as well, but unfortunately, they were not able to get one.

Following this victory, Morocco are the log leaders in their Group A with three points, while Comoros are sitting at the bottom of the table.

Things could change in this group as Mali and Zambia will be facing each other on Monday.

Two more games will take place on Monday as well, as Bafana Bafana will be facing Angola, and later in the day, Egypt will face Zimbabwe, with both games being part of Group B.

The next game for Morocco will be on Boxing Day against Mali, while Comoros will face Zambia on the same day.