CAN 2025: Morocco-Comoros, the big leap to break the 1976 curse

The pressure is immense, commensurate with the expectation. By opening the ball of this competition organized at home until January 18, the national team has no right to make a mistake. Opening matches are often tricky encounters, but for the teammates of Achraf Hakimi, it is above all a matter of marking their territory. The objective is twofold: to pocket the three points to take the lead in the group, and to capitalize on the euphoria of the public to accumulate the confidence necessary for the conquest of the title, absent from the showcases since 1976.

The context is conducive. The atmosphere around national football is galvanized by the recent triumph of the local selection (A’) in the Arab Cup in Qatar. This success serves as a moral boost for the A team, which wishes to ride this positive wave.

History also speaks in favor of Morocco. The statistics against the Coelacanths are clear-cut: in four official confrontations, the Atlas Lions have never lost, recording three wins and one draw. The last match to date, during the group stage of the Arab Cup, had resulted in a clear Moroccan victory (3-1), confirming the depth of the national bench.

However, care must be taken not to underestimate the opponent. For their second participation in the CAN, the Comoros arrive without the pressure of the result, with the ambition to play the spoilsports and to be measured against a giant of the continent.

To lead this inaugural match under high tension, CAF has appointed a Congolese referee, while the video assistance (VAR) will be entrusted to a Mauritanian, Dahane Beida. The stage is set, let the game begin.