Two overhead kicks in eight days: Which of Ayoub El Kaabi's outrageous AFCON goals was better?
The Morocco striker stunned viewers with his acrobatic finish against Zambia, but he'd already done it once before at this tournament
Ayoub El Kaabi stood in the middle of the pitch with his arms out wide, imploring the officials to rule in his favour and gift 62,532 fans inside the Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat a moment they would never forget.
A stunning acrobatic finish from El Kaabi in the 50th minute of Morocco’s 3-0 victory against Zambia was initially ruled offside. When it was then given by referee Issa Sy, the striker was mobbed by his team-mates and shook his head, almost in disbelief at what he had done.
The 32-year-old, who plays for Greek top-flight side Olympiacos, had opened the scoring against Zambia with a header — but this was a totally different kind of aerial finish. It is one we have already become used to seeing from him at this Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The kind of finish you watch once, then again and again and again. Ft. Ayoub El Kaabi. 🤯🇲🇦#TotalEnergiesAFCON2025 | #WePlayDifferent pic.twitter.com/iLhQSOo9Kr
— TotalEnergies AFCON 2025 (@CAF_Online) December 29, 2025
El Kaabi, who left school at 15 years old to become a carpenter, has seized the moment at this year’s AFCON in Morocco. He was only promoted to the starting line-up following an injury to the host nation’s first-choice striker, Lille’s Hamza Igamane, a couple of weeks before the competition started.
For the second time at this tournament, he has scored an overhead kick — the first came eight days ago, in Morocco’s tournament opener against Comoros.
On both occasions, he was moving backwards and sprang into the air to make clean, crisp contact with the ball. The return of Morocco’s captain and Paris Saint-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi from injury was the only reason El Kaabi was not the centre of attention for all of Monday evening. He is now the joint top scorer at the tournament with Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez and Morocco team-mate Brahim Diaz.
Here, we break down the two overhead kicks, try to answer which was better and explain why he makes them look so easy.
Vs Comoros, Morocco’s second goal in a 2-0 win
Aesthetic quality (8/10)
What makes this goal extra special is El Kaabi’s involvement in the build-up. He receives the ball with his back to goal, with three Comoros defenders paying close attention to him.
This is crucial because he draws the centre-backs out of position, which then creates the space he takes advantage of a few seconds later.
