Youssef En-Nesyri has etched his name in the annals of Moroccan football history, becoming the first player from the North African nation to score in four consecutive editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
His latest goal came on Wednesday against the Tanzanian national team during the opening match of Group F in the 34th edition of the tournament, hosted by Côte d’Ivoire and running until February 11.
A product of the Mohammed VI Academy for Football, En-Nesyri initially marked his presence in the Africa Cup of Nations during the 2017 tournament in Gabon, netting his first goals against the Togolese national team.
His prowess continued in Egypt 2019 with two goals against Ivory Coast and Benin, and a goal against Malawi in Cameroon 2022.
En-Nesyri maintained this impressive streak with another goal against Tanzania in the 2023 edition.
With this latest goal against Tanzania, En-Nesyri now stands as the second-highest scorer for the “Atlas Lions” in Africa Cup of Nations history, accumulating a total of five goals.
He follows in the footsteps of Morocco’s all-time leading scorer in the tournament, Ahmed Faras, who netted six goals.
Notably, Youssef En-Nesyri, who plies his trade with Spain’s Sevilla, is also the first player to score for the Moroccan national team in consecutive FIFA World Cup editions (Russia 2018 and Qatar 2022).
This achievement cements his position as the top scorer in the elite national team’s history in this global football showcase, surpassing legends such as Abdelrazzak Khairi, Salaheddine Bassir, and Abdeljalil Hadda (Kamatcho).
En-Nesyri’s prolific performances not only elevate Morocco’s standing in continental and global competitions but also underscore his personal journey as a trailblazer in Moroccan football.
As the Africa Cup of Nations unfolds, football enthusiasts eagerly anticipate further contributions from this remarkable talent on the international stage.
