Zambia score 'Most AFCON goal ever' from 30 yards after wild tackle leads to wonder strike

Zambia and DR Congo's AFCON Group E fixture provided a stunning spectacle as a series of calamitous defensive mistakes gave way to a spectacular breakthrough strike

Kasra Moradi Senior Sports Journalist

21:56, 17 Jan 2024Updated 22:35, 17 Jan 2024

Zambia scored the 'Most AFCON goal ever'(Image: Twitter)

Zambia scored “the most Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) goal ever” after quick-thinking by a Leicester City star who had been wiped out by a ferocious tackle.

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The Copper Bullets’ second match of the tournament got off to a superb start as they took the lead 23 minutes in. Yet the manner in which Kings Kangwa’s goal came about was truly bizarre and unprecedented - for those unfamiliar with AFCON.

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Patson Daka was released with a long ball over the top as he sought to bring it down out wide. But the Leicester City man was met by DR Congo’s on-rushing goalkeeper Lionel Mpasi.

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Mpasi completely wiped out Daka with a bodycheck, which could have easily been a yellow, but managed to knock the ball out of play. But the danger was far from over, with Daka quickly getting up and taking a throw-in as Mpasi scurried back to his goal.

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The ball reached Kangwa, who knocked the bouncing ball towards goal with exquisite technical ability. In hilarious scenes, one defender attempted to head the ball before theatrically falling, while the ball also went in-between the legs of another who attempted to clear it.

Is this the most AFCON goal you've ever seen? Let us know in the comments section below

DR Congo's goalkeeper came way out of his area to clear the ball into touch(Image: Twitter)

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The throw-in was taken quickly before he could retreat to his goal(Image: Twitter)

The stunning effort to put Avram Grant’s side ahead was matched only by the shambolic defending on show, with fans taking to social media to voice their enjoyment.

One X user wrote: “That's why we love AFCON. What was that goal?” while another tweeted: “The way they conceded that goal is so AFCON man.”

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The ball went past two defenders who theatrically tried to stop it(Image: Twitter)

AFCON viewers were loving the spectacle(Image: Twitter)

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A third added: “Zambia just scored the most Afcon goal you can think of,” while a fourth wrote: “That's the most AFCON goal on the planet.” And another chimed in with: “This type of goal only happens at AFCON init.”

Just four minutes later, DR Congo were able to equalise courtesy of Yoane Wissa. A quick counter-attack carved the Zambia defence open, before Wissa was on hand to tap in a squared ball across goal.