The Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in the capital, Rabat, will host the opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations today, Sunday. The match will feature the Moroccan national team against their Comoros counterparts, as part of the Group 1 competitions which also include the national teams of Mali and Zambia.
Match Time and Broadcast Channels
- The match kicks off at 9:00 PM Cairo time, 10:00 PM Saudi time, and 11:00 PM UAE time.
- The match will be broadcast on beIN SPORTS MAX channels, along with the terrestrial channel Al Riyadiya 3 within Morocco.
Team Ambitions
- Morocco, led by coach Walid Regragui, seeks a strong start in front of its fans and aims to confirm its status as one of the top contenders for the championship title. The team relies on a blend of tactical discipline and individual skills.
- The Comoros enter the match without significant pressure but aspire to achieve an early surprise. They will depend on fighting spirit, defensive organization, and counter-attacks.
Historical Context
- The two national teams have met on four official occasions. Morocco has won three of these matches, while one ended in a draw, with no victories for the Comoros.
- Morocco has scored eight goals against three for the Comoros, reflecting its historical superiority despite the gradual improvement in the Comorian team’s performance.
- The last encounter between them was in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where Morocco won 2-0.
Importance of the Opening Match
The match holds special significance as it marks the kick-off of the tournament. It represents a real test of Morocco’s ability to handle the pressure of expectations and of the Comoros’ determination to compete with the top teams. Between Morocco’s desire to confirm its status and the Comoros’ ambition to cause an upset, fans await an exciting match worthy of the official opening of the tournament, which continues until January 18th of next year.
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium
Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium is a major sports venue in Rabat, Morocco, named after Prince Moulay Abdellah, the brother of King Hassan II. It was originally constructed in 1983 and later renovated to host the 2019 African Games, serving as a key site for football matches and athletic competitions.
Rabat
Rabat is the capital city of Morocco, founded in the 12th century by the Almohad Caliphate as a ribat (fortified monastery). It is now a modern administrative center and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, known for historic landmarks like the Hassan Tower and the Kasbah of the Udayas.
Morocco
Morocco is a North African country with a rich history shaped by indigenous Amazigh (Berber) cultures, Arab influence from the 7th century, and successive dynasties like the Almoravids and Almohads. Its cultural sites, such as the ancient city of Fez and the Koutoubia Mosque in Marrakech, reflect this blend of Arab, Amazigh, and European influences. The country is also known for its well-preserved medieval medinas and historic kasbahs.
Comoros
The Comoros is an archipelago nation in the Indian Ocean, formed by volcanic activity and historically settled by a mix of African, Arab, and Malagasy peoples. It became a key hub in Indian Ocean trade routes, leading to the establishment of sultanates and the spread of Islam. After a period of French colonial rule, the Comoros declared independence in 1975.
Mali
Mali is a landlocked West African nation historically renowned as the seat of several powerful empires, most notably the Mali Empire, which flourished from the 13th to 16th centuries and was a major center of Islamic scholarship and trans-Saharan trade. Today, it is home to significant UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the ancient cities of Timbuktu and Djenné, though these cultural treasures face threats from environmental degradation and conflict.
Zambia
Zambia is a landlocked country in southern Africa, historically home to various Bantu-speaking groups before coming under British colonial rule as Northern Rhodesia in the late 19th century. It gained independence in 1964 and is renowned for its natural heritage, including Victoria Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site shared with Zimbabwe.
Cairo
Cairo is the sprawling capital of Egypt, founded in 969 CE by the Fatimid dynasty and situated near the ancient pyramids of Giza. It has long been a major cultural and political center of the Arab and Islamic world, renowned for historic landmarks like the Citadel, the Al-Azhar Mosque, and the bustling Khan el-Khalili bazaar.
Saudi
Saudi Arabia is a modern nation-state founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Al Saud, who unified the regions of the Arabian Peninsula. It is home to Islam’s two holiest cities, Mecca and Medina, which have been central to Islamic history and pilgrimage for over fourteen centuries.
UAE
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates on the Arabian Peninsula, formed in 1971 following the end of British protection. Historically a region of pearl diving and trade, its modern history is defined by the discovery of oil in the mid-20th century, which rapidly transformed it into a global hub of commerce, tourism, and architecture.
beIN SPORTS MAX
beIN SPORTS MAX is a premium television sports channel, part of the beIN Sports network, which was launched by the Qatari media group beIN in 2012. It primarily broadcasts major international sporting events, including football, tennis, and motorsports, to audiences across the Middle East and North Africa.
Al Riyadiya 3
“Al Riyadiya 3” is a residential district in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, part of the city’s modern urban expansion. Its history is tied to the late 20th and early 21st-century development plans to accommodate Riyadh’s growing population and provide organized suburban living.
Cameroon
Cameroon, located in Central Africa, is a culturally diverse nation often called “Africa in miniature” due to its varied geography and over 250 ethnic groups. Its modern history began as a German colony in 1884, later being divided into French and British administrative territories after World War I before achieving independence and unification in 1960 and 1961.
