On the eve of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations opening match against hosts Morocco, Comoros head coach Stefano Cusin spoke to the media at the Complexe Moulay Abdellah on Saturday.
“We are very proud to play this match. It’s an exceptional opportunity to showcase our country and our team. It is a huge emotion and a great pride given our journey,” said the Italian coach.
Cusin acknowledged the challenge of facing a strong Moroccan side on their home pitch. “Morocco is the best team in Africa, one of the best in the world, and they are playing at home. That is a reality. We will need to stay compact. But we cannot just defend and wait. We are looking for the right balance. It would be a shame to limit ourselves solely to the defensive aspect.”
On the topic of Achraf Hakimi, Cusin added, “I do not know him personally, but I appreciate him a lot. He will play, I am sure, because he wants to. Morocco remains an extremely competitive team, with or without him, it does not change anything. On a human level, I hope he will be ready.”
He also reflected on Comoros’ preparation for the tournament. “We had the possibility to start preparations on 8 December, but there was a FIFA decision. So we began with seven or eight players in the south of France. We worked and played a friendly match. Overall, it went well, but I would have liked more time.”
Cusin addressed the pressure of opening against the host nation, drawing on his previous experiences: “I know pressure. I have coached Al Ittihad in Libya. We prepared accordingly. I gave instructions to my players to communicate without speaking. The crowd does not score goals. We have already played Tunisia in Radès and Ghana in Accra. Morocco has one objective: to win. We have several possibilities.”
He also stressed the importance of mindset: “The host country remains a great team, with 18 consecutive wins. Last night, I was watching Portugal–Greece at Euro 2004. In football, you have to believe. It is mentality that makes the difference.”
“We want to go as far as possible, read matches well, and take advantage of our good form,” Cusin concluded.
Midfielder Youssouf M’Changama, speaking alongside his coach, shared his excitement about the occasion. “We are really happy to be here. It is a great pride to play the opening match. This is our second AFCON participation. Morocco is one of the best African nations. We will be present in the moment.”
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