Kaabi's Bicycle Kick Mania: Morocco Crushes Zambia in AFCON 2025
29 December 2025
Kaabi's artistry knows no bounds.
Kaabi's Bicycle Kick Mania
Ayoub El Kaabi, Morocco's forward, returned to his favorite trick—scoring with a bicycle kick—this time against Zambia at Moulay Abdellah Stadium, in the third round of Group A at AFCON 2025.
He opened the scoring with a header in the ninth minute for the Atlas Lions, and Ibrahim Diaz of Real Madrid doubled the lead in the 27th.
Kaabi added his second and Morocco's third with another bicycle kick in the 50th minute, courtesy of a long ball from Azzedine Ounahi.
Initially, the goal was ruled offside, but video assistant referee confirmed it, sealing a Morocco win and sending the team to the knockout stage on seven points.
Kaabi left the pitch in the 74th minute to be replaced by Youssef En-Nesyri, becoming the first Moroccan to bag two AFCON bicycle kicks.
He had already struck with a bicycle against Comoros in the tournament opener, a goal that helped Morocco win 2–0.
El Kaabi is famously prolific with bicycle kicks for both Morocco and Olympiakos, a habit that has produced several memorable strikes.
He tops AFCON's scoring charts on 3 goals, tied with Ibrahim Diaz and Riyad Mahrez.
Punchline: If bicycle kicks earned points, Kaabi would be top of the table by a mile. The ball would probably request vacation after all that drama.
Punchline 2: If he tries a third bicycle kick, the referee will need a helmet—just in case the crowd starts a standing ovation at cardio pace.
