Morocco overcome early nerves to beat Comoros in Cup of Nations opener

RABAT, Dec ‌21 : Africa Cup of Nations hosts Morocco overcame a nervy start to beat the Comoros 2-0 in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday after Brahim Diaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi scored second-half goals.

It was a far from convincing showing, however, from highly fancied Morocco who are 97 places above the small Indian Ocean island nation in the world rankings and had to toil hard for the points in the rain at Rabat's Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah.

Morocco squandered an early penalty and were goalless at halftime despite dominating possession, ‌eventually breaking the deadlock in the 55th minute when Noussair Mazraoui did well ‌to keep the ball from going out of play before passing it square for Diaz to side-foot home.

El Kaabi scored a trademark bicycle kick goal in the 74th minute, 10 minutes after coming on as a substitute, to ease the tension.

Morocco looked initially to be labouring under a heavy burden of expectation and tiny Comoros comfortably held them at bay before the superior firepower of the hosts ensured victory.

The hosts could have been ahead as early as the 11th minute after a ‍soft penalty awarded for a challenge by Iyad Mohamed on Diaz. But Soufiane Rahimi hit the spot kick straight down the middle, striking the knee of goalkeeper Yannick Pandor and watching the ball loop away to safety.

But they eventually broke down the resistance as Diaz got deserved rewards for his continual probing and El Kaabi’s goal ensured a respectable scoreline.

Pandor made several other good stops ​to keep down the score in the closing ‌stages as his teammates began to tire, although Comoros had a chance for an equaliser four minutes after Diaz’s goal but Rafiki Said shot straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine