El Kaabi's Stunning Goal Caps Morocco's Win Over Comoros in Africa Cup of Nations First Game.
Host nation Morocco shook off a anxious beginning to beat Comoros in the competition's inaugural fixture on the weekend, with goals from the Real Madrid attacker and super-sub Ayoub El Kaabi in the second half.
This constituted a hardly emphatic showing, however, from the heavily tipped Moroccans, who sit 97 places higher than the small Indian Ocean nation in the world rankings and were forced to work tirelessly for the three points in wet conditions at the national stadium.
Tense Start and Missed Opportunities
Morocco failed to convert an first-half penalty and were locked at 0-0 at the interval despite dominating the ball, finally opening the scoring in the 55th minute.
The goal arrived after Noussair Mazraoui showed great skill to keep the ball in play before laying it across for Díaz to calmly pass into the net.
Every opening game is invariably tough but we delivered in the second half,” commented Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
The Substitute's Piece of Magic
The tension was then eased by a moment of sheer individual brilliance from Ayoub El Kaabi. Only 10 minutes after coming on, the forward connected with a cross with a spectacular overhead kick in the 74th minute, doubling and sealing the result.
Before that, the hosts could have been the lead in the 11th minute when a penalty was given for a foul on Brahim Díaz. However, Rahimi's penalty was kept out by Comoros goalkeeper Pandor.
The Visitors' Resistance and Late Opportunity
The underdogs stoutly defended against their more illustrious opponents at bay until the Moroccans' superior firepower eventually told.
Shot-stopper Pandor pulled off several other good stops to keep down the scoreline as the match wore on, although Comoros did have a clear opportunity for an equalizer shortly after the first goal, with Saïd firing directly into Morocco goalkeeper Bounou.
Injury Concern for Hosts
The three points was somewhat marred by an apparent injury to Morocco's captain, Romain Saïss, who was forced off in the first half in tears.
The defender had only returned to the national side recently after a year’s absence due to ankle surgery.
The win extends the team's historic run of successive wins to 19, surpassing the previous best of 15 set by the Spanish national team from 2008 and 2009.
