With the semi-final line-up confirmed at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, attention has shifted beyond the battle for a place in the final to an equally fierce contest for the Golden Boot.
As the remaining four teams prepare for decisive encounters, their leading attackers are firmly in contention to finish as the tournament’s top scorer.
At the top of the scoring charts is Morocco’s Brahim Diaz, who has been in outstanding form since the start of the competition. The Real Madrid winger has found the net five times and currently leads the race, with Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen and Egypt’s Mohamed Salah close behind on four goals apiece.
Just a step further back are Ayoub El Kaabi and Ademola Lookman, who both have three goals and remain within striking distance as the tournament enters its decisive phase.
Diaz’s rise has been one of the standout narratives of the competition. Following controversy over a penalty awarded to Morocco against Comoros, head coach Walid Regragui placed his full trust in the winger, handing him the responsibility of leading the attack.
Diaz has responded emphatically, delivering match-winning performances, including a decisive showing against Cameroon that helped Morocco reach the semi-finals. Osimhen, meanwhile, has justified his own high expectations, carrying Nigeria through difficult moments, particularly in their clash with Algeria, where he added to his tally to move level with Salah on four goals.
Salah’s influence has been equally significant for Egypt. In the quarter-final victory over Ivory Coast, the Pharaohs’ captain registered both a goal and an assist, underlining his importance in the knockout stages. His performance also saw him move clear of Amad Diallo in the scoring charts, consolidating his place among the leading contenders. The semi-final against Senegal sets up an intriguing personal duel between former Liverpool teammates, with Salah arriving on four goals and one assist, while Sadio Mané has contributed one goal and three assists so far in the tournament.
While Diaz, Osimhen and Salah dominate the headlines, El Kaabi and Lookman remain serious threats. El Kaabi’s three goals include two spectacular overhead kicks against Comoros and Zambia, marking a strong return after a seven-match goal drought stretching back between the 2021 and 2023 tournaments. Lookman, who is also the competition’s top assist provider with four, has combined creativity with a clinical edge, matching his three-goal tally from the 2023 edition and orchestrating much of Nigeria’s attacking play.
In the semi-finals, Morocco are set to face Nigeria in a high-stakes match while Egypt battle Senegal in what will be a pulsating contest.
