Morocco vs Comoros: Match preview, team news, line-ups and prediction

Host nation Morocco take on Comoros in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opening fixture on Sunday evening.

Morocco qualified automatically for the tournament, being hosts, although they participated in the qualifying, finishing first in Group B.

Comoros also finished top of their group to qualify for the finals for the second time in their history.

Morocco are one of the favourites to win the AFCON and will be aiming to start the tournament on a bright note with a victory here.

The Atlas Lions are unbeaten in their last 17 competitive games, making them clear favourites for this game.

Both sides have met four times , with Morocco winning three and drawing the other encounter.

The host nation are expected to dominate possession, build momentum gradually, before causing problems for the Coelacanths’ defence.

Comoros are a decent defensive side, conceding just four goals during the qualifying, and will be hoping to use their resilience to stifle Morocco’s attack.

At the other end, Stefano Cusin’s side will look to exploit the spaces left behind by the marauding Morocco full-backs.

Morocco are likely to be without the reigning African Player of the Year , Achraf Hakimi , allowing Manchester United’s Noussair Mazraoui to start at right-back.

Comoros, on the other hand, have no reported injury concerns as of yet.

Formation : 4-3-3

Goalkeeper : Yassine Bounou

Defenders : Noussair Mazraoui , Jawad El Yamiq , Romain Saiss, Anass Salah-Eddine

Midfielders : Sofyan Amrabat , Azzedine Ounahi , Neil El Aynaoui

Forwards : Brahim Diaz , Youssef En-Nesyri, Ismael Saibari

Formation : 3-4-1-2

Goalkeeper : Adel Anzimati-Aboudou

Defenders : Ahmed Soilihi , Kenan Toibibou , Kassim M’Dahoma

Midfielders : Ismael Boura , Youssouf M’Changama, Yacine Bourhane , Bendjaloud Youssouf, Zaydou Youssouf

Forwards : Rafiki Said, Faiz Selemani

Morocco are riding high on confidence and buoyed by home support, we predict a 2-0 win for the hosts.

Stats from whoscored.com & cafonline.com