Leicester City forward Patson Daka gave Zambia and his club a major injury scare after an awkward, neck-first landing during wild celebrations for his dramatic late equaliser at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Dramatic Late Leveller Followed by Painful Fall
The 27-year-old striker sparked pandemonium at the 67,000-seater Stade Mohamed in Morocco when he nodded in a 92nd-minute diving header to snatch a 1-1 draw for Zambia in their Group F opener against Mali. However, the joy turned to immediate concern as Daka attempted an acrobatic backflip in celebration.
The move went badly wrong, with the former Premier League man making a wince-inducing and awkward landing directly on his neck, halting the celebrations as teammates and medical staff rushed to his aid.
Zambia's Resilient Fightback
The match itself was full of drama. Mali's El Bilal Touré had a first-half penalty saved by Zambian goalkeeper Willard Mwanza before the Auxerre striker eventually broke the deadlock for Les Aigles in the 61st minute.
Zambia, featuring former Rangers attacker Fashion Sakala, pushed relentlessly for a leveller. Their persistence was rewarded in stoppage time when Daka latched onto a superb cross to power home his header, setting up the frantic and ultimately painful scenes.
Injury Fears Allayed as Daka Continues
Fortunately, initial fears of a serious injury appear to have been avoided. Daka was helped to his feet by concerned teammates and was able to continue for the remaining moments of the match as Zambia secured a valuable point.
His availability for Zambia's next crucial group match against Comoros on Friday is now a key concern for coach Moses Sichone. Daka remains a vital figure for his country, boasting an impressive record of 21 goals in 44 international appearances.
This form contrasts with his club fortunes. Since his high-profile move to Leicester in 2021 for a reported £23 million, following the Foxes' FA Cup win under Brendan Rodgers, Daka has struggled for consistency. He has scored 24 goals and provided 16 assists in 143 appearances for the King Power side.
Zambia's group at AFCON remains challenging, with tournament favourites Morocco still to come. The hope now is that Daka's celebratory mishap results in nothing more than a sore neck and a memorable story.
