Moroccan striker Ayoub El-Kaabi, a standout figure for the Atlas Lions at AFCON 2025, is confirming his status as a key player for the host nation—both through his goal-scoring ability and his spectacular acrobatic bicycle kick, which has become his trademark—writes the French daily Le Figaro.
Described as a “true star of the start of the AFCON,” the Olympiakos forward shone by scoring a brace against Zambia, including his second acrobatic overhead kick of the tournament. “The acrobatic goalscorer has become the benchmark in this area,” the newspaper notes in a profile of the 32-year-old player.
Author of a “magnificent start to the tournament,” the Atlas Lions’ striker “confirms his status as an indispensable forward,” the paper adds, recalling that El-Kaabi currently tops the scorers’ chart with three goals, tied with Brahim Díaz and Riyad Mahrez.
El-Kaabi dominated the group stage of AFCON 2025, notably scoring a brace against Zambia (3–0) on the final matchday, allowing Morocco to finish top of Group A with seven points and qualify for the round of 16.
Le Figaro recalls that the Casablanca-born striker first rose to continental prominence at CHAN 2018, where he finished as top scorer and best player, earning his first senior national team call-up and a place in the 2018 World Cup squad.
After a stint in China, he returned to Wydad Casablanca, finishing as the league’s top scorer with 18 goals, before moving on to experiences in Turkey, Qatar, and Greece. At Olympiakos, he established himself as one of the most prolific foreign players in the league.
Joining the Greek club in 2023 marked the beginning of a “fantastic epic”: El-Kaabi helped Olympiakos win the Europa League, scoring 16 goals across the European campaign, a record for an African player.
He then netted the decisive goal in the final against Fiorentina after extra time, becoming “the first Moroccan to score in a European final,” the newspaper highlights.
Ideally launched into this home AFCON, El-Kaabi appears as a central figure in a Moroccan national team “on a mission to lift the trophy.” He is also targeting a starting spot ahead of the next World Cup, Le Figaro concludes, as reported by FAAPA.
