EFL star lands on his neck as AFCON celebration goes horribly wrong
Leicester City star Patson Daka was lucky to avoid suffering a serious injury after a celebration gone wrong at the Africa Cup of Nations.
The striker took a wince-inducing tumble on his neck during an ill-fated cartwheel following his late goal in Zambia‘s 1-1 draw with Mali.
Tom Saintfiet’s side looked on course to secure all three points in their Group A opener thanks to Lassine Sinayoko’s second-half strike.
Mali’s El Bilal Touré had his first-half penalty saved by Willard Mwanza before the Auxerre forward gave Les Aigles the lead after an hour.
The drama ramped up in the 92-minute when Daka’s diving header rescued a point for Zambia at the Stade Mohammed V in Casablanca.
Daka avoids injury after landing on his neck
The Leicester player sparked pandemonium at the 45-000 capacity stadium, and duly celebrated with an old-fashioned cartwheel.
However, Daka’s right arm buckled underneath him as he planted it on the turf, which resulted in him awkwardly landing on his neck.
Fortunately, the 27-year-old’s momentum saw him roll through the gymnastics manoeuvre without sustaining a serious injury.
Daka looked slightly dazed as he righted himself, but appeared to escape without pain as his teammates celebrated with him.
The former Red Bull Salzburg man then continued to see out the remaining minutes of Zambia’s clash to help his country earn a point.
The result ensured Moses Sichone’s men sit joint second after matchday one, with Mali playing host nation Morocco next.
Zambia, meanwhile, can boost their chances of qualifying behind the World Cup 2022 semi-finalists with a victory over Comoros on Friday.
Daka will be expected to lead the line again in his bid to get his season back on track after struggling for form in the Championship.
He was hot property when he completed a £23million move to Leicester in 2021 amid interest from Liverpool and West Ham.
Daka had scored 34 goals to help Salzburg win their fourth successive Austrian Bundesliga title when he joined the-then FA Cup holders.
Yet despite scoring all four in Leicester’s 4-3 Europa League victory at Spartak Moscow months after his arrival, Daka struggled in England.
He notched just ten goals in 76 Premier League appearances and was powerless to prevent the Foxes’ top-flight relegation last term.
Daka’s goalscoring struggles have continued this campaign, with his header at AFCON already equalling his 2025/26 Championship tally.
His international commitments will see him miss Leicester’s games against Watford and Derby, but his return date is unconfirmed.
Daka would be available to face Sheffield United on New Year’s Day if Zambia suffer a group stage exit, but a deep run would keep him in Morocco until the middle of January.
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