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Rabat – Ayoub El Kaabi produced one of the most spectacular moments of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) last night after scoring a sensational bicycle kick as Morocco defeated Zambia 3-0 in their final Group A match in Rabat.
The 32-year-old striker, who plays for Greek club Olympiacos, was the star of the night at the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, netting twice and drawing widespread praise from fans and media across Africa and beyond. His acrobatic second goal quickly went viral on social media and is already being described as one of the goals of the tournament.
Morocco wasted no time in taking control of the match. El Kaabi opened the scoring in the 9th minute with a powerful header after a precise cross from Azzedine Ounahi. The early goal set the tone for a dominant performance by the Atlas Lions, who controlled possession and kept constant pressure on the Zambian defense.
Brahim Diaz doubled Morocco’s lead before halftime, finishing calmly from close range to score for the third consecutive match.
The defining moment of the match came shortly after the break. In the 50th minute, El Kaabi met Ounahi’s free-kick with a perfectly timed overhead kick while falling backward. Although the goal was briefly checked by VAR for offside, it was eventually confirmed.
The bicycle kick was El Kaabi’s second of the tournament after he delivered an even more stunning one in Morocco’s AFCON opener against Comoros. Media outlets and football analysts were quick to praise the striker.
El Kaabi’s performance earned him the Man of the Match award. He now has three goals in the competition.
With the victory, Morocco finished top of Group A with seven points and secured a place in the Round of 16, where they will remain in Rabat for their next match on January 4. Zambia, meanwhile, were eliminated after finishing bottom of the group without a win.
“We finished top of our group. That was our objective, and it means we will stay in Rabat,” El Kaabi said after the game.
“Now a new competition begins, where there is no room for error. We will rest a little, and above all prepare well for the next challenges,” he added.
