AFCON: Diaz's heroics & El Kaabi's magic launch Morocco past rugged Comoros

After Comoros custodian Yannick Pandor stopped Soufiane Rahimi's penalty kick in the tenth minute, it seemed that the Moroccans opened "Pandor's box".

They struggled against the sturdy minnows for almost an hour, but then their individual quality prevailed, and things began to fall into place.

First, Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock in the 55th minute, allowing the entire stadium and the whole country to breathe a sigh of relief, and then Walid Regragui's golden sub, Ayoub El Kaabi, doubled the lead and set the final score with a bicycle-kick goal worthy of the Puskas Award. And if such a goal was scored in the opening game, what can we expect in the following 28 days?!

Either way, Comoros can be proud of their performance, despite the 2-0 defeat and can definitely keep hopes of the knockout phase alive, while the Atlas Lions "broke the ice," though there are many things to work on if they want to lift the trophy in the end.

Neither the crowd at the packed Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah in Rabat nor the fans watching the opening 2025 Africa Cup of Nations game on TV had to wait long for the first excitement in the tournament, as the hosts were awarded a penalty kick just ten minutes into the match.

Iyad Mohamed recklessly tackled Brahim Diaz in Comoros' box, and the referee, Jean-Jacques Ndala from DR Congo, had no dilemma and pointed to the spot. However, instead of immense joy, the home fans experienced a huge disappointment, as the Coelacanths' goalkeeper Yannick Pandor stopped Soufiane Rahimi's strike with his left knee!

As if from that moment, everything started going south for the Atlas Lions, as their captain - the first-choice skipper Achraf Hakimi, was still unfit, and thus, benched - Romain Saiss picked up an injury and was forced to leave the pitch in tears after only 19 minutes.

The missed spot kick apparently seriously affected the Moroccans, as they barely threatened only once before the break - over Ismael Saibari from long range at the half-hour mark - and appealed for a penalty again, unsuccessfully, though.

All in all, way too lackluster for the hosts, top trophy contenders, and arguably the most potent squad on the continent, and all that against a rival whose roster is over 20 times cheaper.

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After the break, the Atlas Lions continued with their futile strategy of crosses, which couldn't touch Comoros, but the web they were constantly weaving around the minnows' box had to pay off sooner or later.

That "moment of truth" came in the 55th minute when Brahim Diaz scored the maiden goal of the tournament to Noussair Mazraoui's assist and after the Man United defender did a vast attacking job. Either way, the deadlock was broken and a weight was lifted off the hosts' shoulders.

Truth be told, they could have spoiled everything just a couple of minutes later, when Comoros' Rafiki Said wasted a colossal chance, his team's first in the match, allowing the Atlas Lions' keeper Yassine Bounou to deprive him of glory.

After breathing a sigh of relief, the Moroccans were able to play a more relaxed football and patiently wait for a chance to seal the deal. It finally came in the 74th minute, when Ayoub El Kaabi scored a mesmerizing bicycle-kick goal, becoming an undoubted Puskas Award nominee!

The Olympiacos striker's magic definitely meant Comoros would leave the stadium in Rabat, empty-handed, though they had to be proud of their performance against much stronger rival. On the other hand, the Atlas Lions kickstarted the tournament they dream of winning, though they showed many flaws they have to correct as soon as possible in order to achieve their ultimate goal.

And last but not least... Welcome back, AFCON! We've missed you.

AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - GROUP STAGE

Sunday

Morocco - Comoros 2-0 (0-0)

/Diaz 55, El Kaabi 74/

Monday

17.00: (1.60) Mali (3.60) Zambia (6.50)

20.00: (2.60) South Africa (2.90) Angola (3.05)

23.00: (1.37) Egypt (4.50) Zimbabwe (10.0)

Tuesday

15.30: (1.67) DR Congo (3.50) Benin (5.80)

18.00: (1.25) Senegal (5.70) Botswana (13.0)

20.30: (1.45) Nigeria (4.20) Tanzania (8.00)

23.00: (1.70) Tunisia (3.50) Uganda (5.50)

Wednesday

15.30: (1.80) Burkina Faso (3.50) Equatorial Guinea (4.70)

18.00: (1.45) Algeria (4.20) Sudan (8.00)

20.30: (1.40) Ivory Coast (4.50) Mozambique (8.50)

23.00: (2.15) Cameroon (3.25) Gabon (3.60)

***odds are subject to change***