El Kaabi-cyclette": from carpenter in Casablanca to CAN star, the incredible destiny of Ayoub

It is the story of a revenge on destiny. At 32 years old, Ayoub El Kaabi has never been so strong. With already three goals to his name in this home African Cup of Nations, including two spectacular overhead kicks against the Comoros and Zambia, the native of Casablanca proves that his absence from the 2022 World Cup was just a bump in the road. Today, he is Walid Regragui’s deadly weapon.

Before making the crowds roar in the stadium, Ayoub had to struggle. A child from the working-class neighborhood of Derb Mila in Casablanca, he had to work hard to survive. "I was born into a modest family. To meet my needs, I learned the carpentry trade," he recently confided. Between installing roofs and cleaning carpets, the young Ayoub learned patience and rigor. "It’s an honest, wonderful job that combines art and creativity," he says proudly. A humility that has never left him, even at the top.

Football? He played with his neighborhood friends. Spotted late, he did not sign his first professional contract until he was 21 years old. Unusual fact: he was trained as... a defender! It was not until 2016 that he was repositioned as a striker. The click was immediate. He exploded with RAC Casablanca, then Berkane. The general public truly discovered him during the 2018 CHAN organized in Morocco. He scored 9 goals there (a record), won the title and caught the eye of Hervé Renard.

After a stint in China and Turkey, it is in Greece, at Olympiacos, that he reaches his full potential. Top African scorer of the year 2024 with 41 goals, winner of the Europa League, he even has the luxury of scoring against Real Madrid and FC Barcelona in the Champions League. With his contract expiring in six months, his current performances are fueling the rumors. The rumor is swirling: Olympique de Marseille would be in the running. What could be more logical for a specialist in the "bicycle kick" than to dream of the Vélodrome?

In the meantime, Ayoub El Kaabi has only one obsession: to beat Tanzania this Sunday and offer the CAN to the Moroccan people. "We will do everything to make the supporters happy," promises the former carpenter, ready to build a new success for the Lions.