The 2021 AFCON is kicking off on Sunday, yes we’re almost there! Every footballer dreams of scoring a goal at AFCON. Some never realise this dream while others achieve something even bigger than that.
Here are the AFCON greatest scorers of all time.
The list below, starting with number five, Patrick Mboma and Hossam Hassan joint with 11 goals each, also features the likes of Rashidi, Laurent Pokou, and the greatest of all, Samuel Et’oo with a record 18 goals.
Here are the top five goalscorers of all time at AFCON:
5. Patrick Mboma (Cameroon), Hossam Hassan (Egypt) &
Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast): 11 goals
4. Hassan El Shazly (Egypt): 12 goals
#AFCON2019| Hassan El Shazly is #Egypt’s all-time leading scorer in the history of the #AfricaCupofNations with 12 goals#EgyptToday #Africa #TotalAFCON2019 @Caf_online @EFA @Pharaohs | #كأس_الأمم_الأفريقية pic.twitter.com/Dt46eLEsR0
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) June 19, 2019
The Egyptian legend, who left this world in 2015 aged 71, played for The Pharaohs between 1961–1974. El Shazly’s golden year was the 1963 AFCON in which he scored six goals. He was remembered as a “devastating sharp-shooter with both feet.”
3. Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria): 13 goals
#AFCON2019| Hassan El Shazly is #Egypt’s all-time leading scorer in the history of the #AfricaCupofNations with 12 goals#EgyptToday #Africa #TotalAFCON2019 @Caf_online @EFA @Pharaohs | #كأس_الأمم_الأفريقية pic.twitter.com/Dt46eLEsR0
— Egypt Today Magazine (@EgyptTodayMag) June 19, 2019
Most famous for being the man “of the net.” Nigeria’s first-ever goal in a World Cup in 1994. His celebration of crying with his hands holding the goal’s net became iconic. Yekini inspired Nigeria to win the 1994 AFCON.
🇨🇲Samuel Eto’o#Cameroon national team
1⃣1⃣8⃣ International Appearance
5⃣6⃣ International Goals
1⃣8⃣ Africa Cup of Nations Overall top goalscorers
@setoo9#Etoo #AfricaLegends#AFCON2019 #Egypt2019 pic.twitter.com/GApvJtZQCb
— 🇪🇬 Mostafa (@Mos_Egy) June 13, 2019
2. Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast): 14 goals
Known as the L’homme d’Asmara (The man of Asmara), Pokou twice won the AFCON highest goalscorer. He banged in six goals in 1968 (Ethiopia) and eight in the 1970 event in Sudan.
1. Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon): 18 goals
Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o (18) still has more AFCON goals than Abedi Pele, Dede Ayew and Jordan Ayew combined… (16). #AFCON2017 pic.twitter.com/lZze3xca4d
— Joe Crann (@YesWeCrann) January 29, 2017
One of the most famous faces in African football. The ever-smiling Eto’o. The former Barcelona star is one of few AFCON legends to have won the tournament twice (2000 & 2002). Eto’o was fast, strong, and an energetic forward. His work rate, aerial ability, and his clinical finishing with both feet helped him to become the continent’s highest ever goalscorer.
Meanwhile, the 2021 tournament is kicking off on Sunday in Olembe as Cameroon host Burkina Faso.
