What a strike!
Gabadinho Mhango sent Africa into a frenzy with an unbelievable goal for Malawi to open the scoring against Morocco on Tuesday night.
Malawi were the underdogs going into their Africa Cup of Nations round of 16 tie against a side that boasts the likes of Paris Saint-Germain’s Achraf Hakimi, but Morocco were dealt an early shock.
With just seven minutes on the clock, Mhango fought off a challenge from Hakimi and, with players closing him down, decided to try his luck from the best part of 4o yards out.
As he hit the ball, not many people would have likely given him a chance of scoring, but goalkeeper Yassine Bounou was left helpless to prevent it from floating in over his head.
If you haven’t had chance to see it yet, watch it, drink it in right here:
Absolutely no right to shoot, let alone score from there 😳
Take a bow, Gabadinho Mhango – goal of the tournament #AFCON2021 pic.twitter.com/k5kwkUzEAU
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 25, 2022
The strike sparked wild celebrations amongst the Malawians and rightly so.
After thinking Comoros’ free-kick wonder-strike on Monday night was the outright winner of goal of the tournament, Mhango may have given the judges extra food for thought.
WHAT A STRIKE! 🔥🔥🔥
Amazing moment for Comoros, and thoroughly deserved as wellpic.twitter.com/6hysOU9m4K
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) January 24, 2022
Despite the wonder goal, Malawi’s defence resilience was breached on the stroke of half-time as Youssef En-Nesyri levelled the tie.
Related links:
- Outrage after Sadio Mané allowed to play on for 10 minutes after being knocked out
- AFCON quarter-final moved from Olembe Stadium for safety reasons
- Comoros score unlikely wondergoal in AFCON defeat to Cameroon