Morocco breakdown stubborn Comoros to secure win in AFCON opener.

Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi scored in the second half to give Morocco a winning start at the AFCON 2025 curtain-raiser.

The hosts squared up against a compact Comoros side who approached the opening match of the competition with a low-block.

The tie started on a quite frustrating note as the Atlas Lions struggled to move the ball into the central areas forcing them to go sideways and cross the ball into the box.

However, Brahim Diaz’s trickery in the box won the hosts a penalty in the 10th minute after a Comoros player brought down the Real Madrid forward.

Unfortunately, Al Ain forward, Soufiane Rahimi missed the spot-kick to the dismay of the Moroccan fans in the magnificent Stade Moulay Abdallah Stadium.

The first half ended goalless as Walid Regragui’s men left the pitch for the dug-out frustrated.

Morocco started the second half the same way they ended the first with a large share of possession with limited chances.

However, the breakthrough came 10 minutes after the restart as Brahim Diaz fired a low drive into the bottom corner after he received a sweet pass from Manchester United’s defender Noussair Mazraoui.

Olympiacos striker, Ayoub El Kaabi came off the bench and doubled the lead in the 74th minute with a sublime acrobatic effort off Anass Salah-Eddine’s lofted ball into the box.

The tie ended 2-0 as the Atlas Lions showed superior quality and team effort to neutralise the Coelancanths.