Ayoub El Kaabi, the overhead kick ‘specialist’
Some sporting moves become inseparable from those who displayed them. The Fosbury Flop, created by Dick Fosbury in athletics, the Axel jump of figure skater Axel Paulsen, or the famous Madjer by Rabah Madjer in football have all entered history. Since the start of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, a new expression has been circulating on the pitches: people no longer speak of a “bicycle kick” or an “overhead kick,” but of “scoring an Ayoub El Kaabi.”
With two acrobatic overhead kick goals so far, Ayoub El Kaabi has awakened Morocco. Before the El Kaabi spark, supporters had been wary of the sluggish start of the Atlas Lions’ AFCON 2025 campaign, but smiles returned thanks to the Olympiakos striker. At 32, he has become — through just a few gestures — the symbol of a team finally set free. Since then, no one talks about simple goals anymore; they talk about the “El-Kaabicycle.” “Every time I turn in the air to score, I try to give a bit of magic to the public. Seeing the supporters happy is priceless,” the striker says.
Born in Casablanca, El Kaabi currently shares the top spot in the scorers’ chart with Brahim Díaz and Riyad Mahrez, all with three goals each. But while his compatriots have scored from the penalty spot, he has found the net exclusively in open play — including twice with overhead kicks. A signature that leaves no doubt: Morocco have found their hero.
El Kaabi scored the first bicycle kick of the tournament against Comoros, just moments after coming on as a substitute. The Atlas Lions were struggling to impose their rhythm under the pressure of an impatient crowd. At halftime, whistles rang out; a few minutes later, it was euphoria. His aerial strike sent an electric shock through the entire country. “When Ayoub launches himself, you feel that something special is about to happen,” Achraf Hakimi said after the match. “He has that unique talent to turn any situation into a spectacular goal.”
A Specialist in Acrobatics
On Monday, against Zambia in the final group match, El Kaabi did it again. After a disappointing 1–1 draw with Mali, Morocco needed a fresh breath of life. The striker opened the scoring with a header before closing the show with a third goal — a magnificent overhead kick. The whole country now stands firmly behind its Atlas Lions, carried by a fully recovered Achraf Hakimi. “I don’t think about it too much; I focus on the game and the team,” El Kaabi explains. “But when I pull off those moves, I tell myself that all the hard work is paying off.”
From the Slums to the Summit of Europe
El Kaabi’s journey has been breathtaking. Born in the working-class neighborhood of Derb Milla in Casablanca, he grew up in difficult conditions, left school at 15 and did a series of small jobs — carpentry, carpet cleaning, selling salt on the streets. Football, his lifeline, opened a path for him. Spotted by Racing Casablanca, he turned professional at 21 and left manual labor behind for good.
His career has been filled with obstacles. He played in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, survived an earthquake in Turkey, and finally found stability at Olympiakos in 2023. With the Greek club, he scored the only goal in the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final against Fiorentina, becoming the first Moroccan to score in a European final. “Ayoub is a role model for all of us,” says Habib, a Moroccan supporter. “His story shows that nothing is impossible. And his goals… they’re simply magical.”
Today, Ayoub El Kaabi is more than a goalscorer: he is a symbol. He has turned his acrobatics into a trademark, and his journey into a source of inspiration for an entire country. Morocco, galvanized, now believes in its AFCON dream. And every time the striker launches himself for a bicycle kick, an entire nation holds its breath.
Today, all of Morocco have its eyes fixed on Sunday and the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Against Tanzania, the Atlas Lions will have the chance to confirm their resurgence — but above all, to rediscover that spectacular spark that makes the crowd vibrate. And everyone is waiting impatiently for another El Kaabi moment: an overhead kick capable of turning a simple match into a moment to remember for ages.