El Kaabi's Breathtaking Finish Secures Morocco's Win Against the Coelacanths in Africa Cup of Nations First Game.
Host nation Morocco overcame a jittery start to overcome Comoros in the competition's inaugural fixture on the weekend, thanks to the Real Madrid attacker and substitute El Kaabi in the latter period.
This constituted a hardly emphatic display, though, from the strongly favored hosts, who sit 97 places above the small Indian Ocean nation in the FIFA rankings and were forced to work tirelessly for the points in rainy conditions at Rabat's national stadium.
Tense Beginning and Spurned Opportunities
Morocco missed an early penalty and were goalless at the interval despite dominating the ball, eventually breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.
The goal arrived after full-back Mazraoui showed great skill to keep the ball in play before slipping it across for Díaz to calmly pass home.
Every first match is always difficult but we came good in the second period,” commented Morocco coach Walid Regragui.
The Substitute's Moment of Magic
Any lingering nerves was subsequently extinguished by a piece of sheer individual brilliance from substitute El Kaabi. Just ten minutes after his introduction, the forward met a cross with a acrobatic bicycle kick in the 74th minute, making it two and sealing the win.
Before that, the hosts could have been ahead in the 11th minute when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's effort was kept out by keeper Yannick Pandor.
The Visitors' Defiant Stand and Second-Half Opportunity
The underdogs comfortably held Morocco for long periods until the Moroccans' superior firepower in the end made the difference.
Shot-stopper Yannick Pandor made several other fine saves to limit the score as the game wore on, even though his team created a chance for an equalizer shortly following Díaz's goal, with Rafiki Saïd firing straight at keeper Yassine Bounou.
Fitness Worry for Hosts
The three points was somewhat overshadowed by an apparent injury to the skipper, Saïss, who was forced off in the first half in tears.
The centre-back had just returned to the international setup last month following a year’s layoff caused by a serious ankle operation.
This result extends the team's record-breaking run of consecutive wins to 19, beating the previous best of 15 set by Spain from 2008 and 2009.
