The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations starts this Sunday, December 21, in Rabat. In the opening match, the host nation, Morocco, will face Comoros for the opening match of the tournament. It’s a huge, exciting test for the Group A island nation along with Morocco, Mali, and Zambia.
For Comoros head coach Stefano Cusin, this game is a major challenge, but also a unique opportunity for his side to play against one of the teams expected to win the entire tournament.
Speaking to SNRTnews, Cusin was honest about the scale of the task facing his side. “Morocco are one of the best teams in the world, with a run of 19 consecutive victories,” he said. “They are playing at home not just to win matches, but to win the tournament.”
The Italian coach admitted there’s a big difference in experience and status between the two teams, but he made it clear his players will go into the match with confidence and absolutely no fear. “We are a young team, still building, and we have no pressure,” Cusin explained. “It is Morocco who have the obligation to get a result. For us, this is a chance to be part of the show and maybe surprise people.”
Cusin’s praise for the host nation and a familiar face
Cusin also took a moment to praise Morocco for their excellent hosting of the tournament, highlighting how impressed his team has been with all the facilities so far. “It’s a great country and very well organized. The stadiums are high-level and the infrastructure is excellent,” he said. “We’ve played in Oujda, Berkane, Casablanca and El Jadida, so we know the country well.”
The Comoros coach even offered a personal nod to Romain Saïss, the Morocco defender he coached earlier in his career. “I’d like to give a little nod to Romain Saïss, whom I coached at Wolverhampton. I signed him when he was playing for Angers,” Cusin added.
Finally, Comoros’ player Faiz Selemani chimed in, echoing his coach’s calm but ambitious vibe as they get ready for that big opening game against Walid Regragui’s Morocco: “We want to do better than at the last AFCON,” Selemani said. “We are motivated for the match against Morocco, without pressure, and we want to enjoy ourselves.”
While the winger knows just how strong the host team is, he stressed that the Comoros players believe in who they are as a team and are sticking to their own style. “As the coach said, Morocco are a great team, but we also have our qualities and our values,” he added.
Selemani also described playing the AFCON in Morocco as a special experience. “It’s a fantastic country, and I hope this edition of the tournament lives up to expectations.”
The Comoros team is set to arrive in Casablanca on December 17. They’ll finish their preparations there before heading to the opening game. They respect the host nation, but they also really believe in themselves, and they’re aiming to make the absolute most of this rare moment in the spotlight.
For Moroccan and African fans alike, the opening match promises to be an engaging and symbolic start to the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations , with Comoros eager to play their part in the spectacle.
Read also: Morocco at AFCON: A Complete History of Every Tournament Run
