AFCON Qualifiers: Junior Kabananga’s Stunning Bicycle Kick Shocks Ivory Coast
BBC Sport – Abidjan
Junior Kabananga stole the headlines on Wednesday with a sensational bicycle kick that helped DR Congo edge past Ivory Coast in a dramatic 4-3 thriller — one of the standout matches of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
The 25-year-old striker, who plays for Cercle Bruges, delivered a moment of magic that not only thrilled fans but also marked personal redemption. Just four days earlier, Kabananga had been left out of the squad in Kinshasa during the reverse fixture against the Elephants — a decision that left him furious.
Frustrated by the snub, Kabananga was reportedly ready to walk away from the national team setup: “I’m going back to Bruges where they consider me a starter,” he had declared. But coach Florent Ibengue handed him a surprise starting role in the return leg — a decision that paid off handsomely.
The goal itself was a moment of pure class. After a deft touch to control the ball, Kabananga executed a bicycle kick with his back to goal, sending the ball beyond the outstretched hands of the Ivorian goalkeeper. It was the kind of strike that lights up qualification campaigns and instantly becomes a fan favourite.
You can watch the goal here: Junior Kabananga’s Bicycle Kick
While Kabananga was grabbing the spotlight, Ivory Coast’s talisman Yaya Touré also made headlines with a brilliant equalising goal of his own — a long-range curler that briefly lifted the spirits of the home crowd. But despite his effort, the Elephants ultimately fell short on a night that belonged to the Leopards.
Watch Yaya Touré’s goal: Yaya Touré Equaliser
The result keeps DR Congo firmly in the qualification mix, while Ivory Coast, reeling from defeat and missing key players in their next match, must now fight to keep their AFCON hopes alive. But for now, the enduring image of this rollercoaster encounter will be Junior Kabananga mid-air, delivering one of the goals of the qualifiers.
