Morocco beat 2-0 Comoros in AFCON 2025 opener
Host nation Morocco kicked off its 2025 Africa Cup of Nations campaign with an impressive 2-0 win over Comoros at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat on Sunday night.
The opening ceremony began with a showcase of Moroccan culture before Afrobeats superstar David ‘Davido’ Adeleke and Moroccan-American singer French Montana performed the new AFCON soundtrack to thousands of fans inside the sold-out 67,500-capacity stadium.
Eleven minutes into the opener, Soufiane Rahimi had the chance to put Morocco in the lead after the hosts were awarded a penalty following a foul on Brahim Diaz inside the 18-yard box.
However, Rahimi’s effort was saved by goalkeeper Yannick Pandor.
Picking up from where he left off during the qualifiers, in which he finished as top scorer with seven goals, Diaz finally gave Morocco the deserved lead ten minutes into the second half.
A series of team play from the Moroccans’ half resulted in the ball finding Noussair Mazraoui inside the Comoros’ box before the Manchester United player laid a through pass to Diaz, who fired home past Pandor from close range to send cities across Morocco into a state of agog.
In the 74th minute, the hosts doubled their advantage through Ayoub El Kaabi, who pounced home an outrageous overhead kick from Anass Salah-Eddine’s cross to seal the victory for Morocco.
Speaking ahead of this game, Morocco national team head coach Walid Regragui said the team’s objective is to win the AFCON for the second time since 1976, and there is no better way to begin the quest than with an emphatic victory against Comoros.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
World
El-Sisi, Macron discuss U.S.-Iran war, France wildfires
French and Egyptian presidents held a telephone conversation on Saturday in which the parties discussed regional security and bilateral cooperation.
States
Soldiers exhume remains of slain Imo community leader from grave
Troops of 34 Artillery Brigade uncovered the shallow grave and exhumed the remains of a late community member, Ibe Anyadu, allegedly murdered in Imo.
Health
UK govt updates heat health alerts as 2,877 die
The update came after the agency said an estimated 2,877 people died as a result of intense heatwaves between May and June.
Economy
FMBN pledges uninterrupted services, investigation after headquarters blaze
FMBN has assured customers and stakeholders that its operations remain unaffected despite the fire incident that damaged parts of its headquarters over the weekend.
World
Taliban claims responsibility for suicide bombing killing 14 people in Pakistan
Swat’s deputy inspector-general of police, Fida Hussain, said at least 22 people were injured in the blast.
States
Abducted Kebbi high court judge regains freedom
The police confirmed the release of Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, who was abducted from his residence in the Bunza council area.
