Some antic moves become inseparable from those who displayed them. The Fosbury Flop, created by Dick Fosbury in athletics, the Axel jump of amount skater Axel Paulsen, or the acclaimed Madjer by Rabah Madjer in football accept all entered history. Since the alpha of the TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco 2025, a new announcement has been circulating on the pitches: bodies no best allege of a “bicycle kick” or an “overhead kick,” but of “scoring an Ayoub El Kaabi.”
With two acrobatic aeriform bang goals so far, Ayoub El Kaabi has alive Morocco. Afore the El Kaabi spark, supporters had been alert of the apathetic alpha of the Atlas Lions’ AFCON 2025 campaign, but smiles alternate acknowledgment to the Olympiakos striker. At 32, he has become — through aloof a few gestures — the attribute of a aggregation assuredly set free. Since then, no one talks about simple goals anymore; they allocution about the “El-Kaabicycle.” “Every time I about-face in the air to score, I try to accord a bit of abracadabra to the public. Seeing the supporters blessed is priceless,” the striker says.
Born in Casablanca, El Kaabi currently shares the top atom in the scorers’ blueprint with Brahim Díaz and Riyad Mahrez, all with three goals each. But while his compatriots accept denticulate from the amends spot, he has begin the net alone in accessible comedy — including alert with aeriform kicks. A signature that leaves no doubt: Morocco accept begin their hero.
El Kaabi denticulate the aboriginal bike bang of the clash adjoin Comoros, aloof moments afterwards advancing on as a substitute. The Atlas Lions were disturbing to appoint their accent beneath the burden of an abrupt crowd. At halftime, whistles rang out; a few account later, it was euphoria. His aeriform bang beatific an electric shock through the absolute country. “When Ayoub launches himself, you feel that article appropriate is about to happen,” Achraf Hakimi said afterwards the match. “He has that different aptitude to about-face any bearings into a amazing goal.”
A Specialist in Acrobatics
On Monday, adjoin Zambia in the final accumulation match, El Kaabi did it again. Afterwards a black 1–1 draw with Mali, Morocco bare a beginning animation of life. The striker opened the scoring with a attack afore closing the appearance with a third ambition — a arresting aeriform kick. The accomplished country now stands durably abaft its Atlas Lions, agitated by a absolutely recovered Achraf Hakimi. “I don’t anticipate about it too much; I focus on the bold and the team,” El Kaabi explains. “But back I cull off those moves, I acquaint myself that all the adamantine assignment is advantageous off.”
From the Slums to the Summit of Europe
El Kaabi’s adventure has been breathtaking. Born in the banal adjacency of Derb Milla in Casablanca, he grew up in difficult conditions, larboard academy at 15 and did a alternation of baby jobs — carpentry, carpeting cleaning, affairs alkali on the streets. Football, his lifeline, opened a aisle for him. Spotted by Racing Casablanca, he angry able at 21 and larboard chiral activity abaft for good.
His career has been abounding with obstacles. He played in China during the COVID-19 pandemic, survived an convulsion in Turkey, and assuredly begin adherence at Olympiakos in 2023. With the Greek club, he denticulate the alone ambition in the 2024 UEFA Europa Conference League final adjoin Fiorentina, acceptable the aboriginal Moroccan to account in a European final. “Ayoub is a role archetypal for all of us,” says Habib, a Moroccan supporter. “His adventure shows that annihilation is impossible. And his goals… they’re artlessly magical.”
Today, Ayoub El Kaabi is added than a goalscorer: he is a symbol. He has angry his acrobatics into a trademark, and his adventure into a antecedent of afflatus for an absolute country. Morocco, galvanized, now believes in its AFCON dream. And every time the striker launches himself for a bike kick, an absolute nation holds its breath.
Today, all of Morocco accept its eyes anchored on Sunday and the Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat. Adjoin Tanzania, the Atlas Lions will accept the adventitious to affirm their improvement — but aloft all, to balance that amazing atom that makes the army vibrate. And anybody is cat-and-mouse impatiently for addition El Kaabi moment: an aeriform bang able of axis a simple bout into a moment to bethink for ages.