Ayoub El Kaabi's Stunning Goal Secures Morocco's Triumph Over Comoros in Africa Cup of Nations Opener.
Host nation Morocco shook off a anxious beginning to beat Comoros in the competition's first match on Sunday, thanks to the Real Madrid attacker and super-sub El Kaabi in the second half.
This constituted a hardly emphatic performance, however, from the highly fancied hosts, who are ranked 97 places higher than the small island nation in the world rankings and were forced to grind out for the points in wet conditions at Rabat's national stadium.
Nervy Beginning and Spurned Chances
Morocco failed to convert an first-half spot-kick and were goalless at the interval even with dominating the ball, eventually breaking the deadlock 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 into the net.
“The first match is invariably tough but we came good in the second half,” said manager Walid Regragui.
The Substitute's Moment of Brilliance
The tension was then extinguished by a piece of pure genius from substitute El Kaabi. Just 10 minutes following coming on, the striker met a ball into the box with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 74th minute, doubling and sealing the win.
Before that, the hosts might have taken ahead in the 11th minute after a spot-kick was given for a foul on Díaz. Yet, Soufiane Rahimi effort was saved by Comoros goalkeeper Pandor.
The Visitors' Resistance and Second-Half Chance
The underdogs comfortably held Morocco for long periods before the Moroccans' individual talent eventually told.
Shot-stopper Yannick Pandor made several further good stops to limit the score as the match progressed, although his team did have a clear opportunity for an equalizer shortly following the first goal, with Saïd shooting directly into Morocco goalkeeper Bounou.
Injury Worry for Morocco
The victory was somewhat marred by an apparent injury to the skipper, Saïss, who limped off in the 18th minute in some distress.
The defender had only made his comeback to the international setup last month after a year’s layoff caused by a serious ankle operation.
The win extends Morocco's record-breaking run of successive victories to nineteen, beating the previous best of 15 set by Spain between 2008 and 2009.
