Morocco’s first match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) was an exciting start to their campaign. They beat Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s first match at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. This win is the furtherance of Morocco’s historic journey, adding to their record-breaking streak of consecutive wins to 19. The team broke the national record of 15 wins previously established by Spain in 2008-09. More than that, they hit this amazing milestone as recently as last October!
Though Morocco held a major FIFA ranking advantage —97 spots higher than their opponents—this contest was a difficult one. For the Moroccan side, this was only exacerbated by challenging rainy conditions which left their mark and made for a slippery game. Their captain, Romain Saiss, experienced an infuriating start. He limped off the pitch in tears just 18 minutes into the match.
A Hard-Fought Battle
Morocco had a brutal start, controlling the flow of play but not finding a way to translate that into points in the first period. They even wasted a penalty kick chance, resulting in a scoreless scoreline at the half. Morocco’s head coach Walid Regragui even admitted the danger of initial matches at tournaments in the first place.
“The opening game is always difficult, but we came good in the second half,” – Walid Regragui
After halftime, Morocco started to get into their groove. In the 55th minute, a crisp pass by Noussair Mazraoui opened the scoring. This time, Brahim Diaz made no mistake, stroking home with conviction to settle any nerves and put Morocco ahead.
Securing the Win
Even after Diaz’s breakthrough though, Morocco kept pressing forward against Comoros. Ayoub El Kaabi, who scored the opening goal, had come off the bench only 10 minutes before. Then, in the 74th minute, he did what he does best, extending the tie with a classic bicycle kick for his second goal of the match.
El Kaabi’s impact off the bench provided a new wave of hope for Morocco. Most importantly though, it highlighted the amazing depth of talent on the squad. The winning team asserted control for the remainder of the game. It gave them a solid victory, one that will have them riding a high tide of confidence as they go deeper into the tournament.
Implications for the Host Nation
This victory stands as an impressive achievement for Morocco, bringing them early inspiration to establish momentum in their AFCON campaign. The 7-0 commanding performance against Comoros really highlights their national pride. It further solidifies their place as heavy favorites in this elite tournament.
As Morocco prepare for their next round of matchups, they’re hoping to translate their early success into more positive gains. They’ll be honing their skills to meet the special focus and challenge of tournament play. The team’s ability to rise above adversity, particularly in light of Saiss’s injury, demonstrates their resilience and determination to succeed on home soil.
