Morocco’s AFCON 2025 Opening Win Over Comoros

Walid Regragui acknowledged that Morocco’s opening match at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations was far from straightforward, but he praised his players for their improved second-half display that delivered a winning start to the tournament.

AFCON 2025 officially got underway on Sunday evening, with host nation Morocco claiming a disciplined 2–0 victory over Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Playing in front of a passionate home crowd in Rabat, the Atlas Lions were expected to dominate, yet the match proved to be a stern early test.

Morocco enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but struggled to turn control into clear chances. Their frustration peaked in the 10th minute when Soufiane Rahimi’s penalty was brilliantly saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor, who kept his side level with a series of confident stops. The opening 45 minutes ended goalless, leaving the hosts searching for solutions.

The breakthrough finally arrived ten minutes after the restart. Brahim Diaz calmly finished from close range after meeting a precise low delivery from Noussair Mazraoui, lifting the tension inside the stadium. Morocco then played with greater freedom and urgency, pushing Comoros deeper into their own half.

Substitute Ayoub El Kaabi put the result beyond doubt in the 74th minute with a stunning overhead kick, a moment of individual brilliance that brought the crowd to its feet and sealed all three points for the hosts.

Despite the positive result, the night was not without concern for Morocco. Captain Romain Saïss was forced off in the 19th minute after picking up an injury, leaving the pitch visibly emotional and casting a slight shadow over the victory.

Morocco vs Comoros: Walid Regragui’s Reaction After the First Win

After the match, head coach Walid Regragui admitted the pressure of an opening fixture played a role in his team’s uneven performance.

“Starting a tournament is never easy. The first game is always complicated,” Regragui said, according to Far Post. “We did the job. We controlled the first half, but we lacked presence in the box and repeated some old mistakes.”

The coach highlighted the importance of his second-half adjustments and the impact of fresh legs. “The substitutions and intensity changed the game. Once we scored, we managed the match well. Winning the opening game at home is crucial, and this is a very positive start.”

The victory extends Morocco’s impressive run to 19 consecutive international wins and strengthens the belief that the hosts can mount a serious challenge for their first AFCON title since 1976.