Bicycle-kick king Ayoub El Kaabi is new AFCON hero for hosts Morocco

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Moroccos Ayoub El Kaabi scores their third goal in the 3-0 Africa Cup of Nations win over Zambia.

REUTERS

RABAT – With captain Achraf Hakimi hardly featuring during the Africa Cup of Nations group stage as he recovers from injury, Ayoub El Kaabi has emerged as the hero of the tournament so far for the host country.

While Hakimi, the African footballer of the year, has made just one substitute appearance up to now, El Kaabi came off the bench to seal Morocco’s 2-0 win over Comoros in the opening game with a stunning overhead kick.

That moment of magic earned the 32-year-old a place in the starting line-up for the next match, a 1-1 draw with Mali.

While El Kaabi failed to repeat his goalscoring heroics on what was a more frustrating occasion for a much-hyped Moroccan team, he was back at it in Monday’s 3-0 victory against Zambia which allowed the Atlas Lions to wrap up first place in Group A and a last-16 tie against Tanzania.

The Olympiacos hitman headed in the opening goal and later wrapped up the win with another overhead kick.

Cue adulation in the kingdom for a player who first broke into the national team ahead of the 2018 World Cup but has never really been an established starter.

Videos posted online of fans repeating El Kaabi’s bicycle kick move in unlikely situations have become viral, registering millions of views.

Meanwhile, a light show in the sky over Casablanca used drones to recreate El Kaabi scoring in acrobatic fashion.

Another widely