El Kaabi the bicycle kick expert becomes fresh AFCON star for Moroccan hosts
With skipper Achraf Hakimi barely playing in the Africa Cup of Nations group phase while he mends from an injury, Ayoub El Kaabi has stepped up as the standout performer for the home nation thus far.
Although Hakimi, the African player of the year, has only come on as a sub once so far, El Kaabi entered from the bench to clinch Moroccos 2-0 triumph over Comoros in their first fixture with a spectacular overhead kick.
That brilliant strike secured the 32 year old a spot in the starting XI for the following game, which ended in a 1-1 stalemate with Mali.
Even though El Kaabi could not match his previous scoring flair during that tougher outing for the much fancied Moroccan side, he shone again in Mondays 3-0 success versus Zambia, helping the Atlas Lions secure top spot in Group A and a round of 16 clash with Tanzania.
The Olympiacos forward nodded in the first goal and then sealed the result with yet another overhead kick.
This sparked widespread praise across the country for a forward who first earned a national team call up before the 2018 World Cup yet has seldom been a regular starter.
Viral clips
Online clips of supporters mimicking El Kaabis bicycle kick in unexpected settings have gone viral, amassing millions of views.
At the same time, a drone display over Casablanca skies replicated El Kaabis acrobatic goal in lights.
Another popular online clip compiles every goal El Kaabi has netted via overhead kick, as it has always been his trademark move.
He netted four of those during his breakout 2020/21 campaign with Moroccan powerhouse Wydad Casablanca and had already achieved it a few times for his nation prior to this AFCON, notably with flair against Benin last June.
"What counts most is putting the ball in the net. It does not matter who does it or the method," El Kaabi modestly remarked following the Zambia match.
From woodworker to striker
El Kaabis journey started on the streets of Casablanca, where he kicked a ball around in a poor district and laboured as a carpenter.
"I was raised in a slum in Derb Mila, a well known area," the forward shared in a 2024 chat with UEFA.com.
"Our family faced some financial hardships. I managed to attend school and learn, and over summer I took jobs to support my household.
"I assisted my father in building work. Those tasks back then shaped me into a responsible adult."
On his carpentry days, he noted: "It is a wonderful profession that involves artistry and imagination."
El Kaabi finally inked his debut pro deal with Racing Casablanca in 2014, aged 21.
After a strong year in Moroccos second tier, he advanced to the elite level with Renaissance Berkane and later tried his luck in China.
He then returned to join Wydad before a goal filled period in Turkey at Hatayspor was cut short by a major earthquake in early 2023.
A short spell in Qatar followed, but the move that truly boosted his career was linking up with Greek powerhouse Olympiacos.
El Kaabi has bagged 75 goals in two and a half seasons there, including the decider against Fiorentina in the UEFA Conference League final this May 2024, a diving header instead of a bicycle kick.
On the international scene, El Kaabi first impressed by topping the scores as Morocco claimed the 2018 African Nations Championship, aimed at home based talents.
He featured at that years World Cup in Russia and later led his team to another African Nations Championship win in 2021.
El Kaabi also appeared at the Cup of Nations in 2022 and 2024 but had yet to score in the competition before now.
Now ahead of Soufiane Rahimi and Youssef En Nesyri in the selection, he aims to propel the hosts to success over underdogs Tanzania in Rabat on Sunday.