The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) has officially commenced, with host nation Morocco securing a 2-0 victory over Comoros in their opening match. The win was marked by a spectacular overhead kick from Ayoub El Kaabi, which sealed the three points for Morocco in their AFCON Group Stage opener.
The match, played at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, saw Morocco dominate the game, with Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor making several crucial saves to keep his team in the contest. Despite the loss, Pandor’s performance was notable, with five important saves that may prove significant in terms of goal difference later in the tournament.
Morocco’s defender Romain Saiss acknowledged that while the win was a positive start, there is still room for improvement. “Not everything was perfect. But it’s a first match,” Saiss said. “I know we’re going to grow stronger. There were many good things. We’ll work, recover, analyse this game and then turn our focus to the second match against Mali.”
FIFA President Gianni Infantino has promised a historic Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, describing the opening ceremony as a “spectacular show in a stunning setting.” The tournament is expected to be highly competitive, with Morocco entering as Africa’s highest-ranked team and facing high expectations.
Former Moroccan international AbdelAziz Bineej believes the country is ready to host a memorable tournament, both on and off the pitch. “Morocco deserves to be one of the best national teams in the world,” Bineej said. “Being ranked 10th or 11th in the FIFA rankings is a great honour. They deserve it, so now they have to prove it in the Africa Cup.”
With the tournament now underway, the coming weeks will reveal whether Morocco can carry the weight of expectations all the way to the final on January 17. The AFCON 2025 promises to be an exciting and closely contested competition, with several strong teams vying for the top prize. As the tournament progresses, fans and supporters will be watching closely to see which team will emerge victorious and claim Africa’s biggest prize in football.