2025 AFCON set for fierce race among Africa’s leading goal scorers

The 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco is poised to showcase an exceptional cast of goal scorers, as several of the continent’s most prolific forwards aim to challenge Samuel Eto’o’s long-standing tournament record of 18 goals.

Among the 24 qualified nations, a select group of strikers has already drawn significant attention due to their remarkable statistics and sustained influence.

Sadio Mané, Mohamed Salah and Riyad Mahrez lead the pack, accompanied by accomplished figures such as Emilio Nsue, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Youssef En-Nesyri.

Their performances will be closely monitored throughout the competition.

Sadio Mané stands at the forefront with nine AFCON goals, making him the highest-scoring active player heading into the tournament.

The Senegal captain is preparing for his sixth appearance in the event, having featured in the 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023 editions.

Across 20 matches and 1,977 minutes, he has delivered nine goals—three of them penalties—alongside four assists and four yellow cards.

With 52 goals in 121 international appearances, Mané is already Senegal’s record scorer.

Now only nine goals short of Eto’o’s continental milestone, he enters the tournament with a realistic chance of narrowing the gap should Senegal progress deep into the competition.

Just behind him is Mohamed Salah, who begins the 2025 edition with seven AFCON goals.

Egypt’s talisman, second on his country’s all-time scoring chart with 62 goals, remains central to the Pharaohs’ hopes of ending a title drought that dates back to 2010.

Salah has featured in four AFCON tournaments—2017, 2019, 2021 and 2023—playing 19 matches for a total of 1,794 minutes, scoring seven times and supplying four assists.

Despite enduring two final defeats, his sustained output ensures he remains a strong contender to climb the historical rankings.

Riyad Mahrez, entering his sixth AFCON, arrives in Morocco with six goals from 20 matches (1,334 minutes).

A key figure in Algeria’s 2019 triumph, he is noted not only for his technical quality but also for his remarkable discipline—having never received a card in continental competition.

With 108 caps and 34 goals, he stands among Algeria’s most decorated players.

Two seasoned forwards, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Emilio Nsue, also share six goals each.

Aubameyang has reached this tally in 13 matches across four editions, while Nsue, who finished as top scorer in the 2023 tournament with five goals, has achieved his total in 14 appearances.

Further behind, Baghdad Bounedjah, Bertrand Traoré and Youssef En-Nesyri—with five goals each—remain well-positioned to close in on the leading group, particularly if their teams enjoy extended runs.

With so many accomplished strikers competing, AFCON 2025 promises an intense duel not just for continental glory, but for a place in the tournament’s scoring history.

Eto’o’s record remains a formidable target, yet this edition offers the strongest challenge in more than a decade.