Morocco Open Africa Cup of Nations in Spectacular Style with El Kaabi's Overhead Kick
Morocco started the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations with a bang, securing a 2-0 victory over Comoros highlighted by Ayoud El Kaabi's stunning overhead kick goal. As the tournament hosts, the Atlas Lions are eager to secure their first AFCON title and are already proving to be strong contenders. Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz also shone during the match, contributing significantly to the win.
Morocco kicked off the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations on Sunday with a 2-0 win against Comoros, with Ayoud El Kaabi's overhead kick to clinch the victory likely to be remembered as one of the goals of the tournament. The Atlas Lions are tournament hosts and hoping to become the kings of the continent for the first time in their history having never won AFCON before.Morocco are among the tournament favourites despite their poor history competing at AFCON, and they sent a warning to this year's other contenders with a comfortable win.Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz was among the game's biggest contributors, winning an early penalty, which was taken by team-mate Soufiane Rahimi but saved by Comoros goalkeeper Yannick Pandor. Diaz himself managed to open the scoring just after the half-time break, slotting home after being picked out in the penalty area by Manchester United right-back Noussair Mazraoui. With little over 15 minutes remaining, El Kaabi stole the show with a remarkable overhead kick after meeting a chipped through ball from Anass Salah-Eddine.Looking for smarter football bets? Get expert previews, data-driven predictions & winning insights with GOAL Tips on Telegram. Join our growing community now!El Kaabi, who plays his club football for Greek giants Olympiacos, left school at the age of 15 to become a carpenter in order to financially support his family. He had to give up the trade in order to sign a professional contract with hometown side Racing Athletic Club Casablanca, before then joining top-flight outfit RS Berkane in 2017.After impressing in Morocco's first division, he received a national team call-up and a mega-money move to Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune thereafter. Spells back home with Wydad AC, Turkish side Hatayspor and Qatari-based Al-Sadd followed before heading to Olympiacos in 2023, where he has scored 75 goals in 115 matches and was part of the team that won the 2023-24 Conference League, taking home the Player of the Tournament award in the process.At international level, El Kaabi has represented the Atlas Lions at four major tournaments, scoring 18 times in 48 caps.Add GOAL.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reportingMorocco's attention will now turn to their second group-stage clash on Boxing Day, with the Atlas Lions preparing for a showdown with Mali. They will conclude the group against Zambia on December 29.
The Tournament Opener: Morocco vs. Comoros
In their opening match of the Africa Cup of Nations, Morocco faced off against Comoros in a highly anticipated showdown. Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz made his mark early in the game by winning a penalty, which unfortunately was saved. However, Diaz later managed to break the deadlock, scoring just after half-time following an assist from Manchester United's Noussair Mazraoui. But the highlight of the match came from Ayoud El Kaabi, who stole the show with a breathtaking overhead kick goal, securing Morocco's 2-0 victory.
Ayoud El Kaabi: A Rising Star's Journey
Ayoud El Kaabi's story is one of perseverance and talent. Starting his career as a carpenter to support his family, El Kaabi later transitioned to professional football, impressing with his skills in Morocco's first division. His journey took him from Racing Athletic Club Casablanca to RS Berkane, and eventually to clubs abroad, including Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune and Greek giants Olympiacos. El Kaabi's impressive goal-scoring record and dedication have made him a key player for both club and country, with standout performances in major tournaments for the Atlas Lions.
Next Steps for Morocco
Following their triumph over Comoros, Morocco's focus now shifts to their upcoming matches in the group stage. With a clash against Mali on Boxing Day and a final group stage fixture against Zambia on December 29, the Atlas Lions are aiming to maintain their winning momentum and secure a strong position in the tournament. As the host nation, Morocco's fans are hopeful that this could be their year to clinch the coveted AFCON title.
