AFCON: Morocco defeat Comoros 2-0 to win opening game
By Tosin Omojola –
Hosts and one of the title favourites, the Atlas Lions of Morocco, began their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) campaign on a victorious note, defeating a hard-fighting Comoros national team 2–0.
The win did not, however, come easily for the North Africans, as the debutants stretched them to the limit before eventually crumbling.
The opening match of Africa’s biggest football showpiece, which took place on Sunday night at the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Morocco, saw the hosts leave it until the second half before securing maximum points.
Coming into the match as underdogs, Comoros threw everything into the game and succeeded in holding the Moroccans to a goalless first half.
The tide, however, turned against the Comorans in the second half as the host nation, backed by their vociferous home crowd, scored twice to claim all three points.
Ibrahim Diaz scored the opener — the first goal of the current competition — breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute, before El Kaabi added the second in the 74th minute to put the game beyond Comoros.
The victory ensures the hosts take charge of Group A with three points, while the other two teams in the group, Zambia and Mali, will battle it out on Monday in the group’s second opening fixture.
Action in Group B will also begin on Monday, with South Africa starting their campaign against Angola, while the Pharaohs of Egypt will face Zimbabwe.
