Morocco Triumphs Over Comoros in AFCON Opener
Morocco celebrated a 2-0 victory over Comoros in their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), thanks in part to a remarkable performance from Ayoub El Kaabi, reminiscent of Scott McTominay's iconic goal for Scotland. The match took place before a packed crowd of 60,180 in Rabat.
El Kaabi secured the win with a stunning overhead kick 15 minutes before the final whistle, following Brahim Diaz's opening goal just 10 minutes after half-time. This victory marked the Atlas Lions' 19th consecutive win, extending their world record.
As Scotland prepares to face Morocco in the upcoming World Cup, what insights can be gleaned about their opponents from this match?
Diaz's Penalty Claims
Brahim Diaz, the 26-year-old Real Madrid winger, was involved in several controversial moments during the match. He appeared to win a penalty early on after initiating contact with Comoros defender Iyad Mohamed. However, goalkeeper Yannick Pandor successfully saved Soufiane Rahimi's penalty kick, which was poorly executed down the center of the goal.
Diaz, who switched allegiance to Morocco in 2024 after a single cap for Spain, also claimed for a penalty just before half-time, but was penalized for a handball before any challenge could be made.
Diaz's Threat on the Field
Despite some lackluster free-kicks, Diaz proved to be a constant threat when he remained upright, effectively exploiting space across both wings and through the center. Steve Clarke's Scotland will need to be cautious of giving him room, as he demonstrated when he scored the opening goal after receiving a clever pass from Noussair Mazraoui.
Diaz had previously gone five games without scoring but returned to form with this crucial goal, showcasing his ability to capitalize on defensive lapses.
Morocco's High-Tempo Play
Under coach Walid Regragui, Morocco plays a high-tempo game, quickly switching the ball from wing to wing in their 4-3-3 formation. They maintained pressure on Comoros by taking free-kicks and set-pieces rapidly. However, Comoros managed to frustrate the hosts for much of the first half, limiting Morocco to just one shot on target from seven attempts until the opening goal.
Morocco's dominance was evident as they delivered 16 crosses into the Comoros penalty area before the break, with Mazraoui playing a key role in setting up Diaz's goal. Once Comoros adopted a more adventurous approach in the second half, Morocco seized the opportunity to increase their lead.
Defensive Vulnerabilities
Despite their victory, Morocco displayed some vulnerabilities in defense, particularly when Comoros pressed high. They were occasionally caught out by long balls, and Standard Liege striker Rafiki Said missed a golden opportunity shortly after Morocco's opener, shooting directly at goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
Although Bounou faced little trouble throughout the match, he did struggle to gather a long-range free-kick from Youssouf M'Changama, which he ultimately collected on the second attempt.
Future Challenges Ahead
Assessing Morocco's strength based on this match against Comoros, the smallest nation in the tournament, may be misleading. Comoros had topped their qualifying group and provided stiff competition in the last AFCON, but Morocco had previously defeated them 3-1 in the Arab Cup.
Morocco's depth was evident as they achieved this win without their influential captain Achraf Hakimi, who was sidelined due to an ankle injury. El Kaabi, who came on as a substitute, made an immediate impact with his goal, drawing comparisons to McTominay's famous strike.
Morocco will face tougher tests ahead, beginning with matches against Mali on Boxing Day and Zambia on December 29. They are favored to advance from Group A as they aim to win the AFCON title for the first time since 1976 and reach the final for the first time in 21 years. Scotland's manager Clarke will have ample opportunity to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of Morocco ahead of their encounter on June 19 at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, USA.