The race for the coveted Golden Boot intensifies, with Equatorial Guinea’s Emilio Nsue leading the charts despite his team’s elimination in the round of 16. However, with the semi-finalists poised to take the stage, Nsue faces stiff competition, particularly from Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman.
The question of who will inherit the top scorer mantle from Vincent Aboubakar remains open, though replicating Aboubakar’s staggering eight-goal feat from the 2022 tournament seems an arduous task.
Nsue, with five goals, spearheaded the goal-scoring charts with an impressive group stage performance, including a memorable hat-trick against Guinea-Bissau.
Despite Equatorial Guinea’s early exit, Nsue’s lead is tenuous, considering Lookman’s prowess and the fact that Nigeria remains in contention.
Ademola Lookman’s electrifying form in the knockout phase propels him into contention for the Golden Boot. The Atalanta Bergamo winger showcased his goal-scoring prowess with a crucial brace against Cameroon in the round of 16 and followed it up with the lone goal against Angola in the quarter-finals.
Currently trailing Nsue by two goals, Lookman’s ability to find the back of the net makes him a formidable contender.
While other players like Gelson Dala and Mostafa Mohamed, both with four goals, have exited the tournament, the likes of Yoanne Wissa and Themba Zwane, with two goals each, aim to narrow the gap in the upcoming semi-final clashes.
Current Scorer Standings:
1. Emilio Nsue: 5 goals
2. Gelson Dala, Mostafa Mohamed: 4 goals
3. Ademola Lookman, Bertrand Traoré, Lassine Sinayoko, Baghdad Bounedjah, Mabululu, Mohamed Bayo: 3 goals
4. Lamine Camara, Habib Diallo, Yoanne Wissa, Themba Zwane, Ryan Mendes, Mohammed Kudus, Jordan Ayew: 2 goals
As the semi-finals unfold, football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate how the Golden Boot race will shape up, adding another layer of excitement to the climactic moments of AFCON 2023.
