El Kaabi's Breathtaking Goal Wraps Up Morocco's Triumph Against the Coelacanths in Afcon First Game.
The Morocco shook off a jittery beginning to overcome Comoros in the competition's inaugural fixture on Sunday, thanks to the Real Madrid attacker and substitute El Kaabi in the second half.
It was a hardly emphatic showing, though, from the strongly favored Moroccans, who sit 97 places higher than the tiny island nation in the FIFA rankings and had to grind out for the victory in wet conditions at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.
Tense Beginning and Spurned Opportunities
Morocco failed to convert an first-half penalty and were locked at 0-0 at the interval despite dominating the ball, finally breaking the deadlock in the 11th minute of the second half.
The goal came when full-back Mazraoui did well to keep the ball in play before laying it square for Brahim Díaz to sidefoot home.
“The opening game is invariably tough but we delivered in the second period,” commented Morocco coach Regragui.
The Substitute's Moment of Brilliance
Any lingering nerves was then extinguished by a piece of sheer individual brilliance from substitute El Kaabi. Only 10 minutes after coming on, the striker connected with a cross with a acrobatic bicycle kick in the 74th minute, doubling and sealing the win.
Before that, the Moroccan team could have been the lead in the 11th minute when a penalty was given for a foul on Brahim Díaz. Yet, Soufiane Rahimi effort was kept out by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor.
The Visitors' Defiant Stand and Second-Half Chance
The underdogs comfortably held their more illustrious opponents for long periods before the hosts' individual talent in the end told.
Shot-stopper Yannick Pandor pulled off a number of further good stops to limit the score as the match wore on, even though Comoros did have a chance for an equalizer shortly after the first goal, with Rafiki Saïd shooting straight at Morocco goalkeeper Bounou.
Fitness Concern for Morocco
The three points was somewhat overshadowed by an injury to Morocco's captain, Romain Saïss, who was forced off after the first half apparently in tears.
This defender had just returned to the international setup last month after a year’s layoff caused by a serious ankle operation.
The win extends the team's record-breaking run of successive victories to 19, surpassing the old record of 15 set by Spain between 2008 and 2009.
