As the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) approaches, the excitement is palpable and fans across Africa are expecting continental football at its best. Before the tournament kicks off, The Culture Custodian delves into the history of this prestigious event coming up with the top 5 goal-scorers in AFCON history. Here are the prominent football figures who have left their imprint on the continent’s most prestigious football event.
Didier Drogba
Ivorian former footballer
Ivorian legend Didier Drogba graced the AFCON stage in five tournaments from 2002 to 2014, accumulating a total of 24 appearances and scoring 11 goals. His inaugural AFCON goal was scored during Ivory Coast’s 1-0 victory against Egypt on January 21, 2006, and his final goal was netted on January 30, 2013, in a 2-2 draw against Algeria.
Hassan El Shazly
Despite the limited visibility of early AFCON tournaments, the Egyptian El Shazly left his mark. Participating in three editions, he played 10 games and scored a total of 12 goals. Notably, he achieved a remarkable feat by scoring six goals in the 1963 AFCON – the zenith of his international achievements. Regardless of his prolific scoring, Egypt never secured the AFCON title with him in the national team.
Rashidi Yekini
Known as the “Goals Father,” the Nigerian striker was a formidable threat to African defenses during his AFCON appearances. Yekini featured in five tournaments for Nigeria, playing 24 games and scoring 13 goals. His debut AFCON goal was on March 14, 1988, against Kenya, and his final goal came on April 6, 1994, in a match against Ivory Coast.
Laurent Pokou
This Ivorian dynamo twice claimed the title of highest goal-scorer in the 1968 and 1970 editions, scoring 6 and 8 goals, respectively. In the latter edition, he notably scored 5 goals in a single game against Sudan, showcasing his prolificacy. Pokou represented Ivory Coast in four tournaments, playing three times and accumulating a total of 14 goals. Remarkably, it took 38 years until Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon broke his record in the 2008 edition.
Samuel Eto’o
Samuel Eto’o remains the undisputed king of AFCON goal-scoring. Cameroon’s all-time top scorer with 56 goals in 118 appearances, Eto’o participated in six AFCON tournaments, playing 29 games and scoring 18 goals. His inaugural AFCON goal was on January 28, 2000, against Ivory Coast, and his final goal in the competition was scored on January 21, 2010 against Tunisia. Eto’o’s remarkable legacy is etched in AFCON history as the ultimate goal-scorer.