🔗 Share this article Ayoub El Kaabi's Breathtaking Strike Wraps Up The Atlas Lions' Triumph Over Comoros in Africa Cup of Nations First Game. Host nation the Moroccan side shook off a nervy start to overcome Comoros in the tournament's opening game on the weekend, after strikes by Brahim Díaz and substitute Ayoub El Kaabi in the latter period. It was a less than dominant display, however, from the heavily tipped Moroccans, who are ranked 97 places above the small Indian Ocean nation in the world rankings and had to work tirelessly for the three points in wet conditions at Rabat's Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium. Tense Start and Missed Chances Morocco failed to convert an first-half penalty and were locked at 0-0 at the interval even with controlling the ball, eventually opening the scoring in the 55th minute. The goal came when Noussair Mazraoui showed great skill to keep the ball in play before laying it across for Díaz to sidefoot home. “The opening game is never easy but we improved in the second half,” said manager Regragui. El Kaabi's Moment of Magic Any lingering nerves was then eased by a piece of sheer individual brilliance from substitute El Kaabi. Only ten minutes following coming on, the forward connected with a ball into the box with a acrobatic overhead kick in the 74th minute, making it two and sealing the win. Before that, the Moroccan team could have been ahead in the 11th minute when a penalty was awarded for a challenge on Díaz. Yet, Rahimi's effort was saved by Comoros goalkeeper Pandor. Comoros Defiant Stand and Second-Half Chance Comoros comfortably held Morocco for long periods before the hosts' greater quality in the end told. Goalkeeper Pandor pulled off several other good stops to keep down the score as the game wore on, even though his team created a chance for an equaliser shortly following the first goal, with Rafiki Saïd firing straight at Morocco goalkeeper Yassine Bounou. Fitness Concern for Morocco The victory was somewhat overshadowed by an apparent injury to the skipper, Romain Saïss, who limped off in the first half in tears. The centre-back had just returned to the international setup recently after a lengthy layoff due to ankle surgery. The win extends the team's historic run of successive wins to nineteen, beating the previous best of 15 set by Spain from 2008 and 2009.