A little less than a week ago, FIFA awarded Santiago Montiel the Puskas Prize for the best goal of the year, although extending the deadline for the vote by a few days would have made it all the more certain Chilean shot with which Ayoub El Kaabi made it 2-0 definitely for Morocco vs Comorosat the beginning of Africa Cupwould have given the capture of the Independiente midfielder a fight.
The extraordinary pirouette of the Moroccan football player, who is participating in the Greek Olympic Games, took place in the 28th minute of the second half, when his team He already won thanks to a goal from Brahim DíazSpanish-Moroccan player from Real Madrid, also moved in the complementary phase.
The 32-year-old Kaabi didn’t hesitate when he saw Nayef Aguerd’s shot from the left wing into the penalty area. He just managed to sit back Hit the ball in the air with your left leg.
The shot, powerful and precise, went No reaction to the opposing goalkeeper and it was worth it Approval from none other than the Crown Prince of Morocco, Moulay El-Hassanwho applauded from one of the boxes at the renovated Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat, where he watched the game with the FIFA President, Gianni Infantino.
Morocco, host country and big favorite for the title, had a start with some doubts. The thing is, the Qatar 2022 World Cup semi-finalists led by Walid Regragui faced goalkeeper Yannick Pandor for almost an hour, who even saved a penalty against local Soufiane Rahimi in the 11th minute.
And not only that: in the 14th minute, Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou had to appear to prevent the Comoros from surprising equalizer.
Morocco did not have Achraf Hakimi this Sundaywho presented the fans with his African Footballer of the Year trophy before the start of the opening game, but then remained among the substitutes after recovering from an ankle injury.
“We need Hakimi because he is the best player in Africa and one of the best in the world. We didn’t want to take any risks with Achraf. “We have been very cautious and we will see in the next 48 hours if he can play in the next game,” admitted the coach of the team, which will share Group C with Brazil, Haiti and Scotland at next year’s World Cup, which will be played in Mexico, the USA and Canada.
After the mission was successful despite a lack of assertiveness, Morocco initially took command of Group A, supplemented by Mali and Zambia, their next opponents.
Before the game, the only one this Sunday in the Africa Cup program, the Opening ceremony of the tournamentalthough the rain spoiled the evening a bit.
Moulay El-Hassan was responsible for the symbolic kick-off, while in the stands the local fans added color at the start of a competition in which their team is aiming for its second continental title, after the title won in 1976.
It is undoubtedly a kind of foretaste of 2030, the year in which Morocco will be one of the main organizers of the World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal, although the tournament also includes games in Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay (one in each country).
The tournament continues on Monday with three games, among which Egypt’s participation with Mohamed Salah against Zimbabwe stands out.
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