The Africa Cup of Nations hosts, Morocco, overcame a nervy start to beat Comoros in the tournament’s opening game on Sunday after Brahim Díaz and the 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 Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium.
Morocco missed an early penalty and were goalless at half-time 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 Díaz to sidefoot home.
El Kaabi then scored with a spectacular bicycle kick 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 Comoros comfortably held them at bay before the superior firepower of the hosts ensured victory.
