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Morocco could rewrite an ugly Nigerian record on Sunday when the Atlas Lions face Comoros in the opening match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, Footynaija.com reports.
Ahead of the opening fixture, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) has revisited notable opening-day results from past tournaments, with Nigeria still holding an unwanted record.
The Super Eagles’ 5-1 defeat to hosts Algeria in the opening match of AFCON 1990 remains the heaviest loss ever suffered in a tournament curtain-raiser.
The net smiled while the world watched .
— Super Eagles (@NGSuperEagles) October 23, 2025
Rashidi Yekini, our first ever #FIFAWorldCup goalscorer. #SoarSuperEagles pic.twitter.com/TPCJPcsddu
That ugly piece of history could be wiped out when Morocco face Comoros at Rabat’s Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium. Morocco are ranked 11th in the world, the highest-ranked nation in Africa, while Comoros sit 108th. A 5-0 win for Morocco will see Comoros replace Nigeria in the record books.
Unforgettably, that 1990 Nigeria defeat proved a painful opening lesson for the former champions. Inspired by Rabah Mustapha Madjer, Algeria swept aside the Super Eagles in Algiers, scoring five times in a dominant display. Yet Nigeria responded impressively, recovering to reach the final, where they again faced Algeria and lost narrowly by a single goal.
Nobody does it like Naija. We’re so glad you’re here! #TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WeDressDifferent pic.twitter.com/k1kdrfEkV4
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 18, 2025
That experience helped shape future success. Two years later, Nigeria opened AFCON 1992 by defeating hosts Senegal 2-1 in Dakar, but their 1990 loss has remained unmatched in the tournament’s opening-day history.
Morocco now have the opportunity to remove that record from the books with a commanding start on home soil.
Sunday’s match kicks off at 7pm local time, with the opening ceremony expected shortly beforehand. Tournament favourites Nigeria begin their own AFCON campaign on Tuesday, against Tanzania in Group C with games against Tunisia and Uganda to follow on December 27 and 30, respectively.
