Ayoub El Kaabi's Spectacular Goal Wraps Up Morocco's Triumph Against Comoros in Afcon First Game.

Host nation the Moroccan side overcame a anxious beginning to overcome Comoros in the tournament's inaugural fixture on Sunday, after strikes by the Real Madrid attacker and super-sub El Kaabi in the latter period.

This constituted a hardly emphatic display, however, from the strongly favored Moroccans, who sit 97 places above the small Indian Ocean nation in the FIFA rankings and were forced to toil hard for the three points in wet conditions at the Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.

Tense Start and Spurned Chances

Morocco missed an first-half spot-kick and were locked at 0-0 at half-time despite controlling the ball, finally breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute.

It arrived after Noussair Mazraoui showed great skill to keep the ball in play before slipping it square for Díaz to calmly pass into the net.

“The first match is always difficult but we delivered in the second period,” said manager Walid Regragui.

El Kaabi's Moment of Brilliance

The tension was then eased by a moment of pure individual brilliance from Ayoub El Kaabi. Just 10 minutes following his introduction, the forward connected with a ball into the box with a spectacular bicycle kick in the 74th minute, making it two and ensuring the win.

Before that, the hosts could have been ahead in the 11th minute after a spot-kick was given for a challenge on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's penalty was kept out by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor.

Comoros Resistance and Second-Half Opportunity

The underdogs stoutly defended against their more illustrious opponents at bay until the hosts' individual talent eventually made the difference.

Goalkeeper Yannick Pandor pulled off several further good stops to keep down the score as the match wore on, even though Comoros created a chance for an equaliser shortly after the first goal, with Saïd shooting straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.

Fitness Concern for Hosts

The victory was somewhat overshadowed by an injury to the captain, Romain Saïss, who was forced off in the 18th minute apparently in some distress.

This centre-back had only made his comeback to the international setup recently following a year’s absence due to a serious ankle operation.

This result continues the team's record-breaking run of successive victories to nineteen, beating the previous record of 15 set by the Spanish national team from 2008 and 2009.