Exclusive - Stefano Cusin: "Morocco is under pressure, not us"

In partnership with

Foot Africa

·10 décembre 2025

Exclusive - Stefano Cusin: "Morocco is under pressure, not us"

Interview

Exclusive interview with Stefano Cusin, coach of the Coelacanths

Vidéos OneFootball

Exclusive - Stefano Cusin: "Morocco is under pressure, not us"

Just days before the kick-off of AFCON 2025, Comoros are gearing up to face Morocco in the opening match. It’s a massive clash for the Coelacanths, returning to the tournament after their memorable campaign in Cameroon in 2021. Foot Africa sat down with head coach Stefano Cusin, who speaks candidly about his team’s mindset and ambitions.

Foot Africa: Coach, how do you feel about your squad ahead of this big event?

Stefano Cusin: The group is doing very well. The spirit is excellent, just as it was from day one when I took charge. We’re calm, aware of the quality of the opponent—Morocco, the best team in Africa and one of the best in the world, with 18 consecutive wins. But we’re also coming off a qualifying campaign where we finished top ahead of Tunisia, Madagascar, and Gambia. That’s no small feat.

La liste de Stefano Cusin pour les éliminatoires de la CDM 2026 avec les Comores 🇰🇲 ! À noter la présence de Salim Ben Boina (Istres), Raimane Daou (OM) & Youssouf Mchangama (Libre).
– jeudi 28 août 2025

What will be key to making a successful start at this AFCON?

A great deal of tactical focus. Mental strength is crucial: going into this match with humility, but also with the right mentality and determination. Even if the opponent is Morocco, a top team, mentality, discipline, and tactics can make all the difference.

The Coelacanths

How do you handle the pressure around such a high-profile opening match?

For me, Morocco is the side under pressure. They have to win this match, finish top of the group, and aim for the trophy. For my team, it’s the perfect match, the easiest to play: there’s no pressure on us. Our goal is simply to put in a good performance.

What are your ambitions for this AFCON?

We’re a young team, rebuilding for the past two years. We’re back at AFCON after our debut in Cameroon. We’re not going there with any limits. The most important thing is to enjoy ourselves and make our supporters happy. The Comoros fans are wonderful, I saw that again in November. We want to make them proud. That’s our objective.

Stefano Cusin, coach of Comoros