Morocco Secure 2-0 Afcon Opening Win as Soufiane Rahimi Scores and Egypt Held by Angola

Reigning champions Morocco kicked off their 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Gabon in Rabat. The Atlas Lions, who reached the quarter-finals of this summer's World Cup before being eliminated by France, opened the scoring in the 36th minute through Manchester United defender Noussair Mazraoui.

Manager Mohamed Ouahbi handed a first senior start to 21-year-old forward Yassir Zabiri, currently on loan at La Liga side Racing Santander. However, it was Zabiri's second-half replacement, Soufiane Rahimi, who sealed the win with a clinical first-time finish from a low Bilal El Khannouss cross six minutes before the final whistle.

An emotional Rahimi celebrated by displaying a shin pad featuring an image of his late father, Mohamed “Youaari” Rahimi, who passed away earlier this month. The strike marked Rahimi's 15th international goal in 44 appearances for Morocco, following his recent goal for Al Ain in their 4-0 Asian Champions League win over Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr.

Ouahbi also introduced 17-year-old Ajax attacking midfielder Abdellah Ouazane for his senior international debut, while Manchester City midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi played the full 90 minutes at Stade Prince Moulay Abdallah. Morocco will next travel to face Lesotho in Group A on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, Egypt experienced a frustrating start to their Afcon qualifying quest, held to a goalless draw at home by Angola at Cairo International Stadium. Despite captain Mohamed Salah starting the match, and substitute appearances from Tottenham Hotspur's Omar Marmoush and Barcelona teenager Hamza Abdelkarim, the Pharaohs failed to convert their 66 per cent possession into goals against a resilient defence managed by former Senegal coach Aliou Cisse.

Egypt's campaign continues on Tuesday in Group B with an away match against South Sudan at Juba National Stadium. In Group I, Algeria claimed a 3-1 victory over Zambia thanks to goals from Jaouen Hadjam, Ibrahim Maza, and Anis Hadj Moussa, ahead of their upcoming fixture against Burundi.