Morocco’s Africa Cup of Nations campaign began with victory, but relief rather than celebration defined Sunday’s 2-0 opening win over Comoros, as the tournament hosts negotiated the weight of expectation in front of their home support.
Pre-match favourites and still chasing a first continental title in 50 years, Morocco looked tense early on. Persistent rain muted the atmosphere, while a nervy opening — highlighted by a missed penalty — underlined the psychological burden on Walid Regragui’s side, who entered the tournament carrying both form and history on their shoulders.
Despite dominating possession, the hosts struggled to break down a deeply organised Comoros defence in the first half. Matters were compounded when captain Romain Saïss, returning after months out following ankle surgery, was forced off injured after just 18 minutes, leaving the pitch in visible distress. The severity of the setback remains unclear.
Morocco’s breakthrough eventually arrived after half-time, following tactical adjustments from Regragui. Brahim Díaz opened the scoring ten minutes into the second period, providing the composure and incision that had been missing earlier. As Comoros’ resistance faded late on, Ayoub El Kaabi added a second to secure a result that, while deserved, did not fully reflect the dominance of the hosts.
“It’s never easy to start a tournament,” Regragui admitted. “Opening matches are always difficult, but the most important thing was to win our first game in front of our fans. We put a lot of pressure on ourselves, having prepared for this moment for over a year.”
The coach also acknowledged his dissatisfaction at the interval. “I wasn’t happy at half-time and made some changes. The players responded immediately.”
Díaz, named man of the match, echoed the assessment of a patient but demanding contest. “They defended with 11 players behind the ball, so we needed to create a lot of chances. We have to keep improving and be more efficient.”
While the result gives Morocco a solid foundation in Group A, the performance suggested room for growth. The challenge will increase significantly in their next outing against Mali on Friday — a fixture likely to provide a clearer indication of whether the hosts can convert expectation into a genuine title push.
