Overview
- Patson Daka equalized in the 90+2' for Zambia against Mali, then botched a pirouette and crashed headfirst, causing a worrying neck impact.
- Despite the fall, the Leicester City striker stood up and finished the match; Zambia’s federation ordered medical exams to rule out cervical injury and his availability remains uncertain.
- Mali and Zambia drew 1-1 in Group A after Lassine Sinayoko’s opener for Mali in Casablanca, leaving both sides with a point after their AFCON openers.
- Footage of Daka’s failed celebration spread quickly across social media, focusing attention on player safety during goal festivities.
- In Group E, Algeria beat Sudan 3-0 as Riyad Mahrez scored twice and Ibrahim Maza added a late goal, with Luca Zidane starting in net in a performance closely watched by 2026 World Cup opponents.