Comoros Coach: Facing Morocco Is Like Climbing Mount Everest

Italian coach Stefano Cusin confirmed that the participation of the Comoros national team in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco represents a historic opportunity for the team. He expressed hope that his players would be the surprise of the tournament and deliver an outstanding performance against the host Moroccan team in the opening match of the tournament. He explained that the team is focused on playing strong football, and any positive result would be an additional reward.

Cusin described the group containing Comoros alongside Mali, Morocco, and Zambia as very tough, but he expressed optimism about his team's ability to overturn expectations.

The Italian coach pointed to the development of African football, praising the significant improvements in infrastructure and stadiums, and complimented the Moroccan organization, saying: "Everything went well, and we received a warm welcome. The atmosphere is great, the organization is excellent, and we are truly inside the competitive spirit."

Regarding preparations for the first match against Morocco, Cusin revealed that recent schedule changes slightly affected preparations, forcing the team to hold a mini training camp in southern France. However, he noted that the pressure is on the Moroccan team, considering the opening match an opportunity rather than a burden: "Morocco is a very big team, the best in Africa and one of the best globally. They have great experience and a streak of 18 consecutive wins. On paper, the task looks like climbing Mount Everest, but the magic of football is that anything is possible."

On his team's chances of advancing from the group stage, Cusin confirmed: "We are in a very tough group; all competitors are strong, and we have never beaten them before. But the real challenge is to overturn expectations and be the surprise of the tournament. We have a young, quality team that plays good football, and we believe in our chances."

He also spoke about his previous experience in continental tournaments with youth teams, praising Africa's development in infrastructure and stadiums, and pointing to Morocco's successful model in organizing and managing competitions.

Regarding his goals for the tournament, Cusin said: "If I were coaching Nigeria, Morocco, or Algeria, I would say my goal is the semi-finals, but we are Comoros, and this is only our second participation. We will not set limits for ourselves; we will take it match by match and aim to reach the furthest possible stage. We will accept any result, and ultimately the decision is in God's hands. Our goal is to be the surprise team of the tournament."