Rabat: Morocco’s victory over Comoros (2-0) on Sunday evening at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, in the opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) football tournament, was “well deserved,” despite a difficult match, national 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 as well as for the fans. We will grow stronger as the tournament progresses,” Regragui stressed at the post-match press conference.

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, Regragui highlighted the team’s ability to adapt and correct mistakes, particularly in the second half. He acknowledged that the Comorian team put up a strong resistance but eventually succumbed to the sustained pressure. Regragui praised El Kaabi’s goal, describing it as “extraordinary,” and emphasized the importance of focus and strategy in overcoming initial challenges during the match.

Morocco’s win positions them at the top of Group A with three points. The team aims to continue building on this success as the tournament advances. The next match in the group will see Mali facing Zambia on Monday at the Mohammed V Sports Complex in Casablanca.