Patson Daka appears to have avoided serious injury despite making a wince-inducing landing on his neck while celebrating.
The Leicester City forward, 27, made an awkward fall as he wheeled off towards the corner flag after nabbing a 92nd-minute equaliser for Zambia in their Africa Cup of Nations opener against Mali.
In what was a match full of drama, Mali’s El Bilal Touré saw his first-half penalty saved by Willard Mwanza before Auxerre striker eventually opened the scoring for Les Aigles in the 61st-minute.
But Zambia, who also boast former Rangers man Fashion Sakala in their ranks, continued to push for an equaliser and got their just rewards when Daka latched on to a sumptous cross and nodded a diving header into the back of the net.
Sparking pandemonium in Morocco’s 67,000-seater Stade Mohamed, Daka attempted to burst into an acrobatic backflip as his team-mates darted towards him in joy.
But the former Premier League man got it all wrong and made an awkward, painful-looking landing on his neck in the process, much to the concern of many both on and off the pitch.
Patson Daka made an awkward landing on his neck after equalising for Zambia against Mali
Daka appears to have escaped without serious injury being helped up by his team-mates
However, it appears that Daka got off lightly, after being pulled up by his team-mates and continuing for the remaining minutes of the tie as Zambia held on to a valuable point.
Daka was hot property when he made a move to the King Power in 2021, joining a side fresh off an FA Cup win under the management of Brendan Rodgers.
But he has struggled to hit the heights that saw him earn that move to the Premier League, scoring just 24 times and assisting 16 goals in 143 apperances for the Foxes.
Those club toils do not matter for Zambia boss Moses Sichone, though, with Daka having scored 21 times in 44 appearances for his national side, who are in an AFCON group alongside Morocco.
Before they face the competition favourites, however, Zambia have the chance to get three points on the board when they play Comoros on Friday – with Sichone hoping Daka will be available for selection.
