Key events
3 min: Couple of long slide tackles already. The groundsman will not be happy. Amrabat, such a hero in Qatar, and who ought to be recalled fondly at Manchester United for his performance in the 2024 FA Cup final, is in the thick of midfield.
Away we go at AfCon
1 min: Kick-off comes as relief for the players who have been getting soaked to the skin under that downpour. Huge noise as Mazraoui sets off on a run, jeers when he loses the ball and Comoros get the ball.
Five of the 11 who started for Morocco in the 2022 World Cup semi take the stage, minus Hakimi, of course. Comoros seek to go as far as in 2021 when they got to the last 16. It really is raining hard.
The Crown Prince, dressed like Kendall Roy, takes the ceremonial first kick of the championships. It’s raining in Rabat.
The atmosphere in Rabat is wild, flags waving, noise aplenty. The pressure’s on. Achraf Hakimi is sat on the bench, the coolest man in the stadium. He’s not expected to play a part, he hasn’t played since coming off with a left ankle injury in a Champions League game against Bayern Munich at the start of last month. Surprise! Gianni Infantino is in the building, pressing flesh with Aziz Akhannouch, the president of Morocco; Gianni never leaves home without the company of a nation’s premier. Moulay Hassan, Crown Prince of Morocco, is part of the delegation, too.
The teams take to the field in Rabat, the stadium looks close to full, the home fans are expectant. Can Morocco set a standard?
On the field at Rabat, at the Complexe Sportif Prince Moulay Abdellah, CAF President Dr Pratrice Motsepe has takes to declare the AFCON open. Sadly, UK coverage of the opening ceremony has been non-existent.
Achraf Hakimi, a high performer in our Top 100, is on the bench for Morocco. His coach, Walid Regragui, spoke ahead of the tourney: “We have been working for two years. It will be a big day, at home. Our objective has always been to win the AFCON and to give everything. Our supporters are with us.”
On Hakimi:“He may start, or he may not. Every match is important. We will have to manage emotions and play with confidence and humility.”
A reminder of the Afcon 2026 groups:
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Group A: Morocco, Mali, Zambia, Comoros
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Group B: Egypt, South Africa, Angola, Zimbabwe
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Group C: Nigeria, Tunisia, Uganda, Tanzania
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Group D: Senegal, DR Congo, Benin, Botswana
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Group E: Algeria, Burkina Faso, Equatorial Guinea, Sudan
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Group F: Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Gabon, Mozambique
Karim gets in touch: “I am 51 and have waited all my life for Morocco to win an Afcon. Every two years I sit down to see which shambolic, hilarious and shameful way they can mess it up this time. But this time surely, this is our year. My son and I are heading to Rabat for the final, so this is going to be a stressful four weeks. Love your work John, keep it up and enjoy the game mate.”
Here’s the teams
Morocco: Bono; Salah-Eddine, Aguerd, Saiss, Mazraoui; Ounahi, Amrabat, Diaz; El Aynaoui, Rahimi, Saibari. Subs: Talbi, Seghir, El Yamiq, En-Nesyri, Chibi, Hakimi, Munir, Boudial, Al Harrar, El Kaabi, Targhalline, Akhomach, Masina, El Khannous, Ezzalzouli
Comoros: Pandor; Kari, Soilhi, Toibibou, Boura; Z. Youssouf, B. Youssouf, Mohamed, Selemani; Ahamada, Said;. Subs: Amir, Mohamed, Bakari, Ahmed, Bourhane, M’Dahoma, Maolida, Lutin, Ben, Abdallah, Abdallah, Vita, Anzimati, Morivili, Boina
As Jonathan Wilson says: “Perhaps attitudes are not quite as parochial as they once were, but it remains true that, in England at least, the Africa Cup of Nations is discussed less as a tournament in its own right than in terms of what it means for the Premier League.”
There will be considerable Premier League contingent in Morocco, some real key names, too.
The big stories ahead of this championship kicking off have been the controversial lack of lead time, and that the tournament will take place every four years but only after it is held in 2027 and 2028.
Preamble
The host nation kicks off against the island nation. Africa’ best team at the last World Cup take on a team who are second-time qualifiers, and we kick off in Rabat after the opening ceremony. Morocco have only won this competition once, and that will be 50 years come new year and the tournament ending on 18 January.
Kick-off is at 7pm UK time / 8pm local time. Join me.
