Overview
- Brahim Diaz broke the deadlock before Ayoub El-Kaabi sealed it with a spectacular overhead kick after Soufiane Rahimi had an early penalty saved.
- Captain Romain Saïss exited in tears with a left thigh injury, while Achraf Hakimi was declared fit but stayed on the bench.
- A rain-soaked opening ceremony drew praise for organization and spectacle, with Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan giving the symbolic kickoff as King Mohammed VI was absent.
- Group A tightened as Mali drew 1-1 with Zambia, leaving Morocco to face Mali next in Rabat on December 26.
- Officials tout the tournament as a showcase for upgrades tied to World Cup 2030 preparations, with reported spending around 21 billion dirhams as recent protests keep priorities under scrutiny.