Friendlies: Ayoub El Kaabi’s sensational bicycle kick steals the spotlight

There were eleven African nations in action during Monday’s schedule of international friendly matches with several all-African duels while Comoros tried their luck against European side Kosovo. Of note was Ayoub El Kaabi’s superb bicycle kick goal in Morocco’s 1-0 victory over Benin.

هدف عالمي من أيوب الكعبي من مقصية 😲⭐️

الكعبي معروف عليه تسجيل المقصياتpic.twitter.com/7oCyTmYFNu

— FPL UCF (@FPL_UCF) June 9, 2025

The Atlas Lions did enough to secure victory against the Cheetahs in Fez and there was plenty of action throughout the country with numerous African national teams camped in the North African nation.

Earlier in the day, Uganda and Gambia played to a 1-1 draw in Marrakech. Rogers Mato’s opener for the Cranes was cancelled out just before halftime by a penalty kick from Alassana Manneh for his first goal with Gambia.

In the later match played in Marrakech, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon also played to a 1-1 draw. Out of contract Cameroon captain Vincent Aboubakar exchanged goals with his Equatoguinean counterpart, Emilio Nsue, as the regional rivals played to a stalemate.

At the Stade El Bachir in Casablanca, Gabon overcame Guinea-Bissau for a 2-0 victory to complete the results from friendlies played in Morocco.

Elsewhere in North Africa, the domestic-based “A” national team of Algeria defeated Rwanda in Blida by a 2-0 score, the same margin of victory achieved by the full national team last week against Amavubi. Paradou AC forward Adil Boulbina opened the scoring after Berkane Redouane failed to convert a penalty kick and Naoufel Khacef doubled Algeria’s advantage in the second hafl.

Finally, in Kosovo it was a positive start for Comoros but the Coelacanths fell to a 2-4 defeat against the hosts in Pristina. Rafiki Saïd’s excellent work saw him end the match with a goal and an assist, including a cross that led to Saïd Bakari’s excellent volley to open the scoring.

Friendly Results

Uganda 1-1 Gambia

Kosovo 4-2 Comoros

Algeria ‘A’ 2-0 Rwanda

Guinea-Bissau 0-2 Gabon

Equatorial Guinea 1-1 Cameroon

Morocco 1-0 Benin