1. FC Cologne
The hype surrounding Said El Mala is getting crazier and crazier
November 3, 2025 – 3:07 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
Said El Mala continues to inspire the Bundesliga. The 1. FC Köln striker, who is only 19 years old, is now even being praised by his own fans.
It was injury time between 1. FC Köln and HSV when Marvin Schwäbe initiated the game-winning moment. The Billy Goats’ goalkeeper parried a shot from Nicolai Remberg and immediately counterattacked. With a long throw he sent Jakub Kaminski on his way down the right side. He sprinted into the penalty area, crossed and set up Said El Mala’s goal to make it 3-1.
The 19-year-old returned the favor just four minutes later. This time he won the ball himself on his left side, moved into the penalty area and passed from the baseline into the back of the Hamburg defense. Kaminski was lurking there and completed the pass with a powerful shot under the crossbar.
El Mala now has four goals and two assists after just nine Bundesliga games. The 19-year-old is a phenomenon, has adapted to the highest level in Germany in no time and has played his way into the notebooks of the top clubs. But that’s not all: On Sunday he also had the honor of having fans dedicate a song to him.
For the first time since he moved to FC, the FC fans sang a song after the 3-1 win: “Na-na, na-na, na-na, na-na-na-na – Said El Mala, El Mala! Said El Mala!” In memory of the old party hit “Give It Up” by KC & The Sunshine Band. Whether the fans sang “Na na na” at the end or “La la la” based on El Mala’s last name was lost in the cheers surrounding the catchy tune.
Recently, two other audience favorites were able to enjoy their own fan songs. There was of course the classic “Modeste, Modeste, Anthony Modeste”. But the Colombian storm tank Jhon Cordoba was also sung about by the FC fans – with the same song that El Mala is now celebrating. After the game, when the team said goodbye to the south curve, there were chants for the talent again. El Mala thanked him politely and applauded the supporters.
Afterwards, his strike partner Kaminski spoke about El Mala and spoke highly of it. “Said is really great for Cologne, he’s our talent, our star,” said the Pole, but also had some advice for his teammate: “I think as a joker he has a lot of great actions. He has to work hard now, because you have to bring these actions when you’re in the starting line-up.” Kaminski knows what he’s talking about. According to Lukas Kwasniok, the Pole is currently Cologne’s “best player” – and not El Mala. Why? Because Kaminski has always delivered his top performances over 90 minutes this season.