Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi scored second-half goals as hosts Morocco defeated Comoros 2-0 in the opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations ( AFCON) on Sunday.
Soufiane Rahimi had a penalty saved in a frustrating first half for much-fancied Morocco, but Diaz fired home from inside the area 10 minutes after the interval at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital Rabat.
Substitute El Kaabi then got the second with a stunning overhead kick, and the victory on a wet and cold night sets the Atlas Lions up for the potentially tougher tests to come in Group A against Mali and Zambia.
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The result also allowed Morocco, Africa’s best team in the FIFA rankings in 11th place, to extend their world-record winning run to 19 consecutive matches.
Morocco’s next game will be on Friday against Mali, who begin their campaign by taking on Zambia in Casablanca on Monday.
Elsewhere on Monday, South Africa face Angola in Marrakesh before Egypt – the record seven-time African champions chasing a first title since 2010 – get their bid up and running against outsiders Zimbabwe in Agadir in Group B.
This latest edition of AFCON is the first to start in one year and end in another, with the final to take place in Rabat on January 18, 2026.
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