The battle for the Golden Boot at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) is rapidly intensifying, with the tournament delivering goals, drama, and standout attacking performances. As of late December, the race for top scorer remains wide open, reflecting both the depth of talent across the continent and the competitive nature of the competition.
After 30 matches, a total of 67 goals have been recorded, highlighting the attacking quality on display throughout the tournament. Remarkably, seven players are currently level at the top of the scoring chart, a clear indication of how evenly matched the leading contenders have been so far. Traditional powerhouses such as Egypt, Nigeria, Senegal, Morocco, and Algeria all have players among the top scorers, adding extra intrigue as the knockout phase approaches.
With elimination football set to begin, every goal will carry added significance in what is shaping up to be one of the most closely contested Golden Boot races in recent AFCON history.
Qualified Teams Assert Their Title Credentials
Several teams have already confirmed their places in the round of 16, sending a strong message to their rivals. According to Al Jazeera, Egypt, Nigeria, Algeria, Mali, South Africa, and Tanzania have successfully advanced from the group stage.
Egypt opened their campaign with a hard-earned 2–1 victory over Zimbabwe before edging South Africa 1–0 in a tense encounter. Nigeria impressed with back-to-back attacking displays, defeating Tanzania 2–1 and Tunisia 3–2. Algeria also maintained their momentum, securing a second consecutive win with a narrow 1–0 victory over Burkina Faso on December 28.
These results have reinforced the status of the qualified teams as serious contenders for the AFCON title in Morocco.
AFCON 2025 Top Scorers (As of December 30, 2025)
3 Goals
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria)
Brahim Díaz (Morocco)
Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco)
2 Goals
Amad Diallo (Ivory Coast)
Mohamed Salah (Egypt)
Lassine Sinayoko (Mali)
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria)
Oswin Appollis (South Africa)
Lyle Foster (South Africa)
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal)
Elias Achouri (Tunisia)
1 Goal
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria)
Gelson Dala, Show (Angola)
Yohan Roche (Benin)
Georgi Minoungou, Edmond Tapsoba (Burkina Faso)
Karl Etta Eyong (Cameroon)
Théo Bongonda, Cédric Bakambu (DR Congo)
Omar Marmoush (Egypt)
Marvin Anieboh (Equatorial Guinea)
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alex Moucketou-Moussounda (Gabon)
Faisal Bangal, Diogo Calila, Geny Catamo (Mozambique)
Semi Ajayi, Victor Osimhen, Wilfred Ndidi (Nigeria)
Tshepang Moremi (South Africa)
Sadio Mané, Cherif Ndiaye (Senegal)
Ali Abdi, Ellyes Skhiri, Montassar Talbi (Tunisia)
Charles M’Mombwa, Simon Msuva (Tanzania)
Uche Ikpeazu, Denis Omedi (Uganda)
Patson Daka (Zambia)
Prince Dube, Tawanda Maswanhise, Knowledge Musona (Zimbabwe)
Own Goals
Saúl Coco (Equatorial Guinea vs Sudan)
Ghislain Konan (Ivory Coast vs Cameroon)
Aubrey Modiba (South Africa vs Zimbabwe)
Egypt Overcome South Africa in Key Group B Clash
One of the defining moments of the group stage saw Egypt secure a crucial 1–0 victory over South Africa in Group B. Mohamed Salah calmly converted a penalty after a foul in the area, earning the Pharaohs all three points and confirming their passage to the knockout rounds.
Despite enjoying the majority of possession, Egypt struggled to break down a disciplined South African defence, with Salah’s spot-kick ultimately proving decisive.
As AFCON 2025 enters its most decisive stage, the Golden Boot race remains finely balanced. With Africa’s elite forwards pushing for both individual accolades and continental glory, fans can expect more excitement, decisive goals, and memorable performances in the matches to come.
Source: Yen.com.gh
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