The moment of joy experienced by Zambian star Patson Daka after scoring a dramatic equalizer against Mali (1-1) nearly turned into a real disaster on the pitch during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations match. Daka scored the equalizer (1-1) in the second minute of stoppage time with a perfectly placed header, saving the "Copper Bullets" from an early defeat and securing a valuable point in their opening match of the continental tournament.
However, the dramatic celebration that followed the goal turned the joy into sudden panic when Daka attempted a celebratory backflip, resulting in a sudden fall on his neck. The player remained on the ground for several seconds, causing widespread concern throughout the stadium, fearing a serious neck injury that could threaten his football career.
But the fears were quickly dispelled when Daka got up, continuing his celebration and completing the remaining minutes of the match without further incident.
With this draw, both Zambia and Mali earned one point each, temporarily occupying second and third place in Group A, while Morocco leads the group with three points after their 2-0 victory over Comoros on Sunday.
