In Rabat the home team began the African Cup of Nations by winning 2-0 in the rain, but Stefano Cusin’s Comorians emerged from the match with their heads held high. Pandor saves a penalty from Rahimi
First surprise: around 9000 people are missing from the sold out Prince Moulay Abdellah. Second: Stefano Cusin’s Comoros Islands are organized and courageous, and keep the Moroccan superpower in check for a long time. The certainties: Morocco beats 2-0 an opponent 97 positions lower in the FIFA rankings. Among the owners, the Atlas Lions have 4 members who are in the Champions League and 2 in the Europa League, the Coelacanths (an almost extinct bone fish) two boys from the French fourth series, one from the third and three members in B between Saudi Arabia, France and Belgium.
ITALIAN CEREMONY
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Before the match, the beautiful Italian-style opening ceremony as it was signed by Balich Wonder Studio, greetings from Gianni Infantino and Patrice Motsepe (president of Caf) and the kick-off from Crown Prince Moulay Hassan. Then under a heavy and incessant rain the 35th African Cup of Nations started. In Morocco Hakimi recovered but not at risk and goes to the bench so Mazraoui moves to the right and former Roma player Salah-Eddine goes to the left. Up front, Regragui chooses Rahimi, currently playing for the Emirates at Al Ain, instead of El Kaabi or En-Nesyri. The owner is Roma player El Aynaoui.
PENALTY SAVED
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Rahimi immediately betrays the coach’s trust by having the brilliant Pandor, goalkeeper of Francs-Borains in Belgian B, save a penalty called for a foul by Iyad on Brahim (11′). Morocco collapses and, crushed by the pressure of the forced victory, does nothing until the break, with the Comoros happy to defend themselves without worries and with a single shot, from a sidereal distance, towards Bounou’s goal.
ONE-TWO
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The technical gap, however, is evident, and the good will of the Comorians (all born in France) resists until the 55th minute when the former Viola player Amrabat catches Mazraoui and he does the same with Brahim who accurately beats Pandor in the middle of the area. After a good save by Bounou on Rafiki launched by Aguerd’s naivety, he is spectacular with a double save on Mazraoui and El Aynaoui and bows only to El Kaabi’s Ronaldian overhead kick, who has just come on for the terrible Rahimi and is able to score a spectacular goal from a cross by Salah-Eddine. Morocco sets out to win the continental title using the 3 points to sand down the pressure of an environment that will not be able to withstand any failure. The Comoros come out with their heads held high, and that wasn’t a given.
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