El Kaabi’s Acrobatic Goals Propel Morocco to AFCON 2026 Group Stage Success

Ayoub El Kaabi has emerged as the breakout star of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), delivering spectacular moments for the host nation Morocco during the group stage. With captain Achraf Hakimi limited to just one substitute appearance due to injury recovery, the 32-year-old Olympiacos striker has stepped up emphatically, scoring twice with breathtaking bicycle kicks and adding a headed goal to help Morocco top Group A with a 3-0 win over Zambia.

El Kaabi's journey to AFCON hero status is as inspiring as his goals are spectacular. Born and raised in an impoverished neighborhood of Casablanca known as Derb Mila, he began playing street football while working as a carpenter to support his family. "I grew up in a shanty town... We were in a bit of a difficult financial situation," he recalled in a 2024 UEFA.com interview. "In the summer, I worked to help my family... I helped my dad, who worked in construction. The work I did at that time made me a man." He signed his first professional contract at age 21 with Racing Casablanca in 2014, later moving to Renaissance Berkane, doing a stint in China, and then moving back to Morocco with Wydad Casablanca, where he first gained widespread attention for his acrobatic goals.

His career took off further in Turkey with Hatayspor (interrupted by the 2023 earthquake), a brief spell in Qatar, and ultimately a move to Greek club Olympiacos, where he has scored 75 goals in two and a half seasons, including the winner in the 2024 UEFA Conference League final against Fiorentina. Internationally, El Kaabi made his mark by topping the scoring charts as Morocco won the 2018 African Nations Championship (CHAN) for locally-based players, played at the 2018 World Cup, captained the 2021 CHAN-winning side, and featured in the 2022 and 2024 Africa Cup of Nations—though he had never scored at the senior AFCON until this tournament.

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His overhead kicks have become a viral sensation. Videos of fans mimicking the bicycle kick in everyday situations, drone light shows in Casablanca recreating his goals, and compilations of his acrobatic strikes have amassed millions of views. After sealing Morocco's opener against Comoros with a stunning overhead kick off the bench, he earned a starting spot and followed up with another in the Zambia win. "The most important thing is to score. It doesn't really matter who scores or how they do it," El Kaabi said humbly after the Zambia match.

Now having overtaken Soufiane Rahimi and Youssef En-Nesyri in the pecking order, El Kaabi will lead Morocco's attack in the last-16 clash against Tanzania on Sunday in Rabat. His rise from carpenter to national hero has captured the imagination of Moroccan fans and the continent, making him the face of the tournament so far. With Morocco aiming to lift the AFCON title on home soil, El Kaabi's flair and finishing could prove decisive in their quest for glory.

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