Ayoub El Kaabi's Breathtaking Goal Caps Morocco's Win Over the Coelacanths in Afcon First Game.
The Morocco overcame a anxious beginning to overcome their island opponents in the tournament's inaugural fixture on the weekend, after strikes by Brahim Díaz and substitute El Kaabi in the second half.
It was a hardly emphatic display, though, from the highly fancied Moroccans, who are ranked 97 places above the tiny Indian Ocean nation in the FIFA rankings and were forced to work tirelessly for the points in wet conditions at Rabat's national stadium.
Tense Start and Spurned Chances
Morocco failed to convert an first-half penalty and were goalless at the interval even with dominating the ball, finally breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.
It came when Noussair Mazraoui showed great skill to prevent the ball from going out before laying it square for Díaz to calmly pass home.
Every first match is always difficult but we improved in the second half,” commented manager Walid Regragui.
The Substitute's Piece of Brilliance
The tension was then extinguished by a piece of pure individual brilliance from substitute El Kaabi. Just 10 minutes after his introduction, the forward met a ball into the box with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 74th minute, doubling and sealing the win.
Earlier in the match, the hosts could have been the lead in the 11th minute when a spot-kick was given for a foul on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's penalty was kept out by keeper Pandor.
Comoros Resistance and Second-Half Opportunity
The underdogs stoutly defended against their more illustrious opponents at bay before the Moroccans' superior firepower in the end told.
Goalkeeper Pandor made several other good stops to limit the scoreline as the match progressed, although Comoros created a clear opportunity for an equalizer shortly following Díaz's goal, with Rafiki Saïd firing straight at keeper Bounou.
Fitness Concern for Morocco
The victory was somewhat overshadowed by an apparent injury to Morocco's skipper, Saïss, who was forced off in the 18th minute apparently in some distress.
The centre-back had just made his comeback to the national side recently after a lengthy layoff caused by ankle surgery.
This result continues Morocco's record-breaking run of successive victories to nineteen, beating the previous record of 15 set by the Spanish national team from 2008 and 2009.
