DR ‹ › Morocco's 2–0 victory over the Comoros on Sunday night at Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations 2025, was «fully deserved» despite a difficult contest, national team head coach Walid Regragui said. «The opening match is always difficult for the host country. There was a lot of tension. We have been preparing for this AFCON for two years. This victory was beneficial for us, but also for the fans. We will continue to grow into the tournament», Regragui said during the post-match press conference. كأس إفريقيا للأمم (المغرب- جزر القمر 2-0): المباراة كانت صعبة، لكن الفوز جاء عن جدارة واستحقاق (وليد الركراكي) CAN-2025 (Maroc-Comores 2-0): Un match difficile, une victoire amplement méritée (Regragui)#CANMaroc2025 pic.twitter.com/GH9o5vH1lO — Agence MAP (@MAP_Information) December 21, 2025 «We corrected our mistakes in the second half. We knew the Comoros would eventually crack after absorbing so much pressure», he added, describing Ayoub El Kaabi's goal as «extraordinary». «We played to our strengths and showed the right mentality. We stayed focused despite difficulties in the first half», Regragui continued, noting that the Comoros side «will cause problems for other opponents». Commenting on the injury that forced captain Ghanem Saïss off the pitch, the coach explained: «Ghanem felt pain in his knee. We hope it's nothing serious so we can have him back during the tournament. He's an experienced player. It's a blow for the team, but we must manage absences and injuries». According to Regragui, substitutes often prove more effective in front of goal, citing El Kaabi as an example. He explained that he opted to start Sofiane Rahimi in order to bring more dynamism to the attacking line. «It was a similar scenario to previous matches, with an opponent sitting deep but expending a lot of energy», he said, adding that the Comoros have «a good team». Looking ahead, Regragui warned that the upcoming match against Mali will be a major challenge. «Mali have players of a very high level. It will be a very difficult match, a real test for us, just as it will be for them», he said. For his part, Brahim Diaz, who was named Man of the Match, stressed that every game presents its own challenges. «The Comoros defended very deep. We have to keep improving and scoring goals. This win will help us going into the next match», he said, adding that «it was important to win our opening game». «It's fantastic to play here in Rabat in front of our fans», he concluded. كأس إفريقيا للأمم (المغرب 2025): إبراهيم دياز يؤكد التزامه الكامل مع الفريق، مشددًا على أنه سيبذل أقصى ما لديه لخدمة المجموعة في المرحلة المقبلة. #CANMaroc2025 pic.twitter.com/jPNKykZuTd — Agence MAP (@MAP_Information) December 21, 2025 Thanks to this victory, Morocco, with three points, provisionally tops Group A. The group's second fixture will see Mali face Zambia on Monday at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca.
