Football: AFCON top scorers – players to watch in 2025
by Devesh Jaganath | by Devesh Jaganath
Mohamed Amoura - Forward (Algeria)
Algeria arrive in Morocco seeking redemption. After claiming their second continental crown in 2019, the Desert Foxes endured back-to-back dismal campaigns in 2021 and 2023, failing to win a match and exiting the tournament in the first round.
However, under Vladimir Petkovic, Algeria have reemerged as a front-runner for the title this year following a stunning qualification campaign for AFCON and the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and we will be covering their progress throughout the tournament in our AFCON 2025 predictions.
While Riyad Mahrez is still the main man for the Desert Foxes, Mohamed Amoura is the player who is under the spotlight heading to Morocco after finishing as Africa’s top scorer during World Cup qualifying, netting 10 of the team’s 24 goals.
Since March this year, the 25-year-old has recorded a hat-trick against Mozambique, bagged braces against Botswana, Somalia and Uganda, and was on the scoresheet again in the Desert Foxes' warm-up victory against Zimbabwe last month.
Amoura has also been in solid form for his club Wolfsburg in the Bundesliga, netting six goals and providing two assists in 14 league appearances, including registering three direct goal contributions in the team’s last two matches against Union Berlin and Monchengladbach.
Mohamed Salah - Forward (Egypt)
Mohamed Salah is widely considered the most accomplished footballer that Egypt has ever produced, which says a lot given the success the nation has experienced at the Africa Cup of Nations throughout their history.
Salah has won just about every title there is in club football, including the Premier League and Champions League, while last season he smashed a plethora of records en route to winning the English top flight’s Golden Boot with 29 goals and 18 assists in 38 league games.
Now at 33 years of age, this could be the Egyptian King’s final appearance at the AFCON and he will be determined to help his side win their eighth title and the one that has eluded him in his outstanding career - being crowned champions of the continent.
Salah may not be in the greatest form for Liverpool this season, but he was immense for the Pharaohs during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, finishing with nine goals and as the second-highest scorer in Africa behind Morocco’s Mohamed Amoura.
Victor Osimhen - Forward (Nigeria)
You cannot discuss potential top goal scorers in any competition without mentioning Nigeria’s talisman, Victor Osimhen, who will have added motivation to deliver in Morocco after they shockingly failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The 26-year-old’s importance and influence on the Nigerian squad were never more evident than at the World Cup qualifiers, where Eric Chelle’s side only managed to earn four points from a possible 15 in matches that the striker missed at the competition through injury.
With 31 goals in 45 appearances for his country, Osimhen stands as the Super Eagles’ second-highest goal scorer of all time, just six behind the legendary Rashidi Yekini, and given the pace of his output, it’s almost certain that he will soon move to the top of that list.
Osimhen heads to the AFCON in fine form as well, netting three goals in his last two league matches for Galatasaray, including in the victory over Antalyaspor this past weekend. He has also scored six goals in just four Champions League appearances this term - the second-most in the competition.
Other AFCON 2025 Golden Boot Challengers
Amid Cameroon’s ongoing struggles and questionable selection decisions, such as the omissions of Vincent Aboubakar and Eric Maxime Choupo-Moting, Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo is now widely considered the talisman for the Indomitable Lions, and he will be determined to shine in his first AFCON for the nation.
Given Morocco’s massive favourite status with all the best online betting sites, several Atlas Lions’ players are on the radar, especially Brahim Diaz. The diminutive midfielder has not had the best season for Real Madrid, but is still one of the most explosive players in Africa and was the top scorer during qualifying for AFCON 2025.
Finally, we have to reserve a spot on this list for Player of the Tournament in 2021, Sadio Mane. The Al-Nassr attacker remains the heart and soul of the Senegal team and is the all-time top scorer for the Lions of Teranga, with 50 goals in 117 international appearances. He will also be key to unlocking the attacking prowess of Nicholas Jackson, Iliman Ndiaye, and Ismaila Sarr.
