By Addis G.

The AFCON 2025 tournament kicked off in the vibrant city of Rabat, Morocco, on December 21, with a spectacular opening ceremony that captured the essence of African culture and football passion. The event was a feast for the senses, featuring colorful traditional dances, mesmerizing music, and a stunning display of lights that illuminated the historic streets and the grand stadium.

Moroccan Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan inaugurated the opening ceremony of the 35th edition of the African Cup of Nations (AFCON-Morocco 2025) at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

The opening ceremony was attended by prominent sports figures, including FIFA president Gianni Infantino and AFCON President Patrice Motsepe. Earlier, Motsepe announced that AFCON will be played every four years rather than every two years.

As dignitaries and football fans gathered, the atmosphere was electric, filled with anticipation and excitement. The opening game saw Morocco face off against the underdogs, Comoros, in a highly anticipated match, which ended in a thrilling 2-0 victory for Morocco, setting the tone for what promises to be an exhilarating competition. Morocco is touted as the favorite to win the trophy, but it is football, and with the presence of teams such as Cameroon, Ivory Coast, the defending Champions Senegal, Egypt, Algeria, and South Africa, the race for the trophy is never a fait accompli.

Throughout the tournament days, fans can expect intense matches, emerging stars, and memorable moments, with the tournament serving as a platform for showcasing Africa’s football talent and cultural heritage. As the days unfold, expect surprise upsets, passionate fan displays, and a showcase of Africa’s best footballing talents, making AFCON 2025 a historic event to remember.

Morocco v Comoros

The Atlas Lions spurned a glorious chance to take an 11th-minute lead after Iyad Mohamed brought down Brahim Diaz in the box but Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor got his left knee to Soufiane Rahimi's penalty, according to a BBC sports analysis.

The Indian Ocean islanders sat back and frustrated their opponents until 10 minutes into the second half when Diaz was left unmarked near the penalty spot to sweep home Noussair Mazraoui's low ball across the box.

The Real Madrid man's strike was greeted by a loud roar by the majority of the 60,180 in attendance at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium and the game then sparked into life as Comoros forward Rafiki Said was denied by the legs of Yassine Bounou and Mazraoui saw a fine effort palmed away by Pandor.

Substitute Ayoub El Kaabi netted a sensational overhead kick with a quarter of an hour remaining to make the game safe for the North Africans and ensure that Walid Regragui's side lived up to pre-match expectations by delivering victory.

They also did so without influential captain Achraf Hakimi, who was only fit for the bench after suffering an ankle injury playing for Paris St-Germain in a Champions League game in early November.

They also lost centre-back Romain Saiss to injury early in the game.

The three points meant Morocco extended their world record run of consecutive victories to 19 - but a more difficult test will come against Mali on Friday (20:00 GMT).

Meanwhile, there are three games on Monday as the West Africans take on Zambia in the second match in Group A, while Egypt and South Africa start their campaigns in Group B.

Morocco have been the top-ranked African side since the 2022 FIFA  World Cup, when they became the first side from the continent to reach the semi-finals, and their ambition on the pitch has been matched by vast investment in football stadiums and infrastructure – all backed by King Mohammed VI.

The country is enjoying its time in the limelight, having hosted the past two Women's Africa Cup of Nations finals - a tournament it is set to hold again in March next year.

The 2030 World Cup will be co-hosted by the kingdom but, for now, the pressure is on Regragui to deliver a first AFCON title since 1976, with the coach admitting that "anything other than victory will be a failure".

Morocco have only returned to the last four at the finals once in the past 49 years – in 2004 when Regragui was part of the side pipped to the trophy by Tunisia.

Bigger tests will come for the Atlas Lions but their home fans will be relieved that their side navigated a potential upset at the hands of Stefano Cusin's Comoros, a BBC report noted.

AFCON History

The African Cup of Nations (AFCON) was established in 1957 by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and is the continent's premier football tournament. Initially featuring just three teams—Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia—Egypt has been the most successful nation, securing a record 7 titles. Other notable winners include Cameroon, Ghana, Nigeria, and Algeria.

The tournament is held every two years and has expanded over time, now featuring 24 teams since 2019. The trophy, called the African Cup of Nations, is a symbol of continental pride, with memorable moments such as Cameroon’s 2017 victory, which marked their fifth title, and the tournament's role in uniting diverse nations.

Interesting facts include the tournament’s occasional hosting controversies, its role in launching African football legends, and how it serves as a qualifying event for the FIFA Confederations Cup.