AFCON: Hosts Morocco start with a win, Sinayoko on the scoreline for Mali

The Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) got underway on Sunday, as hosts Morocco beat Comoros. We round up the action following an exciting first two days of the 2025 edition of the tournament.

Morocco 2-0 Comoros

Ligue 1 McDonald's talent, both past and present, were on display as Morocco swept Comoros aside in the opener in Rabat.

Marseille defender Nayef Aguerd was the only starter who currently features in France's top-flight, and he helped the Atlas Lions keep a clean sheet. However, there were other familiar faces in the form of Azzedine Ounahi, who left OM to join Girona over the summer, and Neil El Aynaoui, who also departed Ligue 1 McDonald's earlier this year, trading Lens for Roma.

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz got the opener in this one (55') before Ayoub El Kaabi's spectacular overhead kick (an early contender for goal of the tournament) secured a win for the hosts on the opening night.

Mali 1-1 Zambia

There was Ligue 1 McDonald's talent on display the following day as AFCON continued with a 1-1 draw between Mali and Zambia. It was the former who dominated proceedings, with the latter looking to sit back and soak up the pressure.

Mali earned a penalty just before half-time. It was former Reims striker El Bilal Touré who stepped up, but then missed.

However, pressure did finally tell when Auxerre centre-forward Lassine Sinayoko gave Mali the lead just past the hour mark. However, a goal down, Zambia were suddenly and unsurprisingly more expansive.

Sinayoko delivering for Mali! ⚽️🇲🇱 pic.twitter.com/4regggb4T8
— Ligue 1 English (@Ligue1_ENG) December 22, 2025

It did look as if a Mali side, that also contained the likes of Lens' Mamadou Sangaré and Brest's Kamory Doumbia, would hold on for all three points, until Patson Daka popped up in injury time to salvage a point.

South Africa 2-1 Angola

None of Europe's top five divisions are more represented more at this year's AFCON than Ligue 1 McDonald's, and it was the turn of Lyon's Clinton Mata to get his campaign underway on Monday afternoon, with Angola.

However, it was South Africa who took the lead through Oswin Appollis. Angola did, however, make their way back into the game through Manuel Luis da Silva Cafumana just after the half-hour mark.

But South Africa, the hosts of the 2010 World Cup, would land the decisive blow through Lyle Foster in the 79th minute as they got their campaign underway with a win.

Egypt 2-1 Zimbabwe

Meanwhile, Egypt's excellent run in the AFCON Group Stages (just one loss in their last 23 matches) continued, however, they had to come from behind to salvage a win against Zimbabwe.

Prince Dube opened the scoring, but Manchester City's Omar Marmoush levelled just after the hour mark. Egypt pushed for a late winner and would get it through Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah. It was another Mohamed, Nantes' Mostafa Mohamed, who set up that injury-time goal and ensured a winning start for Egypt.

>> Five young Ligue 1 McDonald's players to watch at AFCON 2025