The opening match of the 2025 African Cup of Nations, Sunday evening, between Morocco and the Comoros, for a 2-0 victory for the host country (goals from Brahim Diaz and Ayoub El Kaabi), was the opportunity to discover the magnificent Prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat. The public went wild for the entry into contention of Walid Regragui’s Lions despite the rain. This sumptuous setting for 69,500 people, inaugurated on September 5, will host the final on January 18.
The CAN continued Monday afternoon (kick-off 3 p.m.) with the second meeting of Group A between Mali and Zambia, at the Mohamed V Stadium in Casablanca, the home of Raja and Wydad. The 45,000-seat enclosure, usually so boiling for the matches of the two local clubs, rang hollow. The clash was nevertheless very interesting on paper, especially between the Moroccans’ next two opponents.
The huge Casablanca mention was notably visible on TV for the players’ entry and the start of the match, despite the arrival of a group of Malian supporters. Enough to make African Cup followers react, while the organization announced XXL success in terms of ticket sales. The stands were a bit fuller in the second half.
Lassine Sinayoko was not enough
The two teams offered a little more spectacle throughout the meeting. El Bilal Touré did not convert his penalty for the Eagles by stumbling on Willard Mwanza, the Chipolopolos goalkeeper, for the second missed penalty in as many penalty kicks in this tournament… Lassine Sinayoko opened the scoring on the hour mark with a surface fox (61st), confirming his good season with AJ Auxerre and his status as Mali’s attacking leader.
Finally, Zambia center forward Patson Daka equalized with a header in added time (92nd). The Leicester player, only one goal in the Championship this season, also missed his Djibril Cissé celebration and could have hurt himself very badly. It is Mali who continue against Morocco on Friday, while Zambia will therefore try to pocket the three points against the Comorians.
