Morocco Starts Africa Cup of Nations with Victory as Hosts
In the second half Brahim Diaz along with Ayoub El Kaabi netted the goals that saw host country Morocco launch their Africa Cup of Nations effort with a successful outcome defeating underdogs Comoros 2-0 during the competitions initial fixture on Sunday.
Soufiane Rahimi saw his penalty effort stopped during a challenging opening period for the highly rated Morocco side yet Diaz struck from close range within the box ten minutes following the break at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium located in Rabat the nations capital.
The substitute El Kaabi added the next with an impressive overhead effort and this win on a damp chilly evening positions the Atlas Lions well for the more demanding challenges ahead in Group A versus Mali and Zambia.
This outcome further enables Morocco ranked as Africas top side at eleventh in the FIFA list to prolong their extraordinary sequence of triumphs reaching nineteen straight victories.
The contest unfolded much as anticipated since the kickoff encounter tends to pose difficulties for the hosting team amid the surrounding pressures said manager Walid Regragui.
We had spent two years readying for this hence there was considerable strain.
The 2-0 result is fully merited and we might have added another except for easing off slightly towards the end.
It delights the supporters though our aim was not to deliver peak form right from the outset.
The match drew a turnout of 60180 spectators including Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay Hassan who stepped onto the field prior to the start and FIFA leader Gianni Infantino among the guests.
Moroccos key player and skipper Achraf Hakimi ultimately observed the full encounter from the substitutes bench as Regragui opted to protect the Paris Saint Germain defender sidelined since an ankle issue with his team in early November.
We chose not to hazard anything with Achraf We remain extremely cautious regarding his recovery Regragui explained.
It seemed destined to be a tough evening for Comoros after Morocco earned a spot kick in the tenth minute when creative midfielder Diaz was fouled within the penalty area by Iyad Mohamed.
However Rahimis attempt was blocked by the outstretched leg of Comoros keeper Yannick Pandor who plunged to his right and the away team managed to repel their superior opponents through the rest of the opening half.
Impressive overhead effort
That said Morocco who also dealt with an early withdrawal due to injury for experienced defender Romain Saiss managed to overcome their rivals post interval.
Comoros the small Indian Ocean island group sitting at 108th globally had their defensive stand broken when the first goal came on the 55th minute.
Manchester Uniteds Noussair Mazraoui deployed at right defence in place of the not fully recovered Hakimi collected possession on the right flank of the box and passed across for Real Madrids Spain born number 10 Diaz to finish.
Prior to that Morocco had nearly taken the lead through Neil El Aynaoui and soon after gaps appeared even as Comoros mounted a counter with Rafiki Said thwarted while through one on one.
Mazraoui drew a solid stop from Pandor before El Kaabi representing Greek powerhouse Olympiakos illuminated the night by connecting with a delivery from the left courtesy of Anass Salah-Eddine via a superb bicycle kick overhead to extend the lead to 2-0.
Moroccos forthcoming fixture comes on Friday versus Mali who commence their involvement facing Zambia in Casablanca come Monday.
Meanwhile on Monday South Africa meet Angola in Marrakesh prior to Mohamed Salahs Egypt the seven time record holders seeking a return to glory since 2010 initiating against long shots Zimbabwe in Agadir within Group B.
This current instalment of the Cup of Nations marks the initial one to span across two calendar years concluding with the decider in Rabat on January 18.