Ayoub El Kaabi's Breathtaking Goal Secures The Atlas Lions' Victory Over Comoros in Africa Cup of Nations Opening Match.
Host nation Morocco shook off a jittery beginning to beat Comoros in the tournament's opening game on the weekend, with goals from the Real Madrid attacker and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi in the latter period.
It was a hardly emphatic display, though, from the highly fancied Moroccans, who sit 97 places higher than the small island nation in the FIFA rankings and had to work tirelessly for the victory in rainy conditions at Rabat's national stadium.
Nervy Beginning and Missed Chances
The hosts missed an first-half penalty and were goalless at half-time despite controlling the ball, finally opening the scoring in the 55th minute.
The goal came when Noussair Mazraoui showed great skill to prevent the ball from going out before slipping it across for Brahim Díaz to calmly pass home.
Every first match is never easy but we came good in the second period,” commented manager Walid Regragui.
El Kaabi's Moment of Magic
The tension was subsequently eased by a piece of sheer individual brilliance from Ayoub El Kaabi. Just 10 minutes following his introduction, the striker connected with a ball into the box with a spectacular overhead kick in the 74th minute, doubling and ensuring the win.
Before that, the Moroccan team might have taken the lead in the 11th minute when a spot-kick was awarded for a foul on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's effort was kept out by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor.
The Visitors' Resistance and Second-Half Opportunity
Comoros comfortably held Morocco for long periods before the hosts' greater quality in the end made the difference.
Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor made a number of further good stops to keep down the score as the match wore on, although his team did have a chance for an equalizer shortly following the first goal, with Rafiki Saïd shooting straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Injury Worry for Hosts
The victory was partially marred by an apparent injury to Morocco's captain, Saïss, who limped off after the 18th minute in some distress.
The defender had only returned to the national side last month following a lengthy absence due to ankle surgery.
The win extends the team's record-breaking run of successive victories to 19, beating the old record of 15 set by the Spanish national team from 2008 and 2009.
