AFCON 2025: Comoros ready to prove they belong on big stage – Stefano Cusin

Comoros national team head coach Stefano Cusin has warned that his team will be at the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco to show that they are good enough in the biggest stage.

The Les Coelacantes will head into the 35th edition of the biennial tournament organised by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), ready to face the hosts Atlas Lions in their opening fixture. The tournament will be hosted by Morocco for the second time and the first since 1988.

Comoros have been pooled in Group A alongside Morocco, Zambia and Mali, and will face Morocco’s Walid Regragui’s side in the opening day at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium on December 21.

“It is an honour. Playing against Morocco, a great football nation, in front of a packed stadium (Stade Moulay Abdellah in Rabat), and with the whole world watching, will be an emotional occasion,” Cusin said as quoted by CAFOnline.com.

On when he had seen Comoros pitted against Morocco during the January draw, Cusin revealed his reaction: “I was delighted. It’s an opportunity for our team to play a big match like this. Morocco are the favourites, the best African side right now, and they play at home. But we are not here by chance.

“We finished top of a group that included Tunisia, Gambia, and Madagascar. If we are here, it is because we earned it. We will certainly be a difficult opponent.”

Comoros is up to the task

On whether Comoros will be under pressure against Morocco, he said: “Every team at a continental finals feels pressure. For Morocco, the pressure is far greater because they are at home and have the obligation to aim for the title. For us, it is positive pressure — it pushes us to give our very best.”

He added: “We know Mali well — we played them twice in World Cup qualifying. It didn’t go well, but we want revenge. They are a very strong team, ranked 54th in the world, but we had regrets from our last match. Zambia topped their group ahead of Côte d’Ivoire, so they are formidable too. Nobody qualifies for AFCON by chance. They will be serious opponents, but we will be up to the task.”

He concluded: “I would say we are an emerging team. We beat Ghana. We beat Tunisia (0-1) in Radès, where they had not lost at home for 14 years. We beat Gambia (2-1) in a decisive game and Cape Verde (1-2) as well. For the big African nations, playing against us is a bit like going to the dentist: nobody enjoys it.”

After Morocco, Comoros will face Zambia at Stade Mohammed V in their second fixture before concluding with a game against Mali at the same venue on December 29.

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