Ayoub El Kaabi's Breathtaking Goal Caps The Atlas Lions' Triumph Against the Coelacanths in Afcon First Game.
Host nation the Moroccan side shook off a jittery beginning to defeat Comoros in the competition's inaugural fixture on the weekend, thanks to Brahim Díaz and substitute El Kaabi in the latter period.
This constituted a less than dominant showing, though, from the heavily tipped hosts, who sit 97 places higher than the small island nation in the world rankings and had to grind out for the points in rainy conditions at the national stadium.
Nervy Start and Missed Opportunities
Morocco missed an first-half spot-kick and were goalless at the interval despite dominating the ball, eventually opening the scoring in the 55th minute.
It came when full-back Mazraoui showed great skill to prevent the ball from going out before laying it square for Díaz to sidefoot home.
Every opening game is always difficult but we delivered in the second half,” commented manager Walid Regragui.
El Kaabi's Moment of Brilliance
The tension was then calmed by a moment of sheer genius from Ayoub El Kaabi. Just 10 minutes after coming on, the striker met a cross with a stunning overhead kick in the 74th minute, making it two and sealing the result.
Before that, the hosts might have taken ahead in the 11th minute when a penalty was given for a foul on Brahim Díaz. However, Rahimi's effort was kept out by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor.
The Visitors' Resistance and Late Opportunity
The underdogs comfortably held Morocco for long periods until the hosts' greater quality in the end made the difference.
Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor made several further good stops to limit the score as the game progressed, even though his team did have a clear opportunity for an equaliser shortly after the first goal, with Saïd firing directly into keeper Yassine Bounou.
Injury Worry for Morocco
The three points was somewhat marred by an apparent injury to Morocco's captain, Romain Saïss, who was forced off in the first half apparently in tears.
This defender had just made his comeback to the international setup recently following a year’s absence due to ankle surgery.
This result extends the team's historic run of successive victories to nineteen, surpassing the old record of 15 set by the Spanish national team from 2008 and 2009.
