The Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has moved into the quarter-final stage, with 44 matches played and 109 goals scored, and the race for the Golden Boot is beginning to take clearer shape.
With the Round of 16 now completed and margins tighter than ever, goals have proved decisive, and a blend of established stars and emerging names are leading the tournament’s scoring charts.
At the top stands Brahim Díaz, who has scored four goals in four matches. The Morocco forward has grown in influence with each game, and his goal against Tanzania in the Round of 16 sent the hosts into the quarter-finals while moving him clear at the summit of the standings.
Diaz is playing in his first ever AFCON. Photo Credit: AFP
Morocco are also strongly represented by Ayoub El Kaabi, who has scored three goals in four matches. His contributions have added to the hosts’ attacking output, with two of his goals coming via bicycle kicks during the tournament.
Lassine Sinayoko of Mali is also on three goals from four matches. His finishing across the group stage ensured Mali’s progress, while his late penalty against Tunisia in the Round of 16 helped take the match to extra time before Mali eventually prevailed on penalties.
Algeria captain Riyad Mahrez has also found the net three times and remains among the leading scorers. Despite not scoring in the Round of 16 win over Burkina Faso, he continues to be influential and a major source of attacking threat ahead of a heavyweight quarter-final clash against Nigeria.
Three-time champions and 2023 runners-up Nigeria have scored the most goals at AFCON 2025, with 12 in total, and boast a potent attacking pairing in Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman.
Both players are winners of the 2023 and 2024 CAF Best Player of the Year awards. Osimhen scored twice in Nigeria’s 4–0 win over Mozambique in the Round of 16, while Lookman has three goals and four assists and has contributed the most goals contribution in the tournament.
Lookman and Osimhen celebrating together. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Liverpool striker Mohammed Salah has sparkled for the Pharaoh’s of Egypt with 3 goals despite having trouble times on club level, he scored his nations third goal in the extra time win over Benin. He will hope to lead his team pass the champions with his goals.
A number of players are tied on two goals, underlining how competitive the scoring race has become. They include Cameroon teenager Christian Kofane, Senegal’s Pape Gueye, South Africa duo Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis, Tunisia’s Elias Achouri, Nigeria’s Raphael Onyedika, DR Congo’s Gaël Kakuta, Senegal’s Chérif Ndiaye and Nicolas Jackson, Algeria’s Ibrahim Maza, Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo, and Mozambique’s Geny Catamo.
Mo Salah’s undeniable qualities can never be ignored. Photo Credit: Imago
With the tournament now entering its decisive phase, the quarter-final line-up has been confirmed, with several heavyweight clashes set to decide who advances to the semi-finals:
Friday, January 9
Mali vs Senegal — 5:00pm (local time)
Cameroon vs Morocco — 8:00pm (local time)
Saturday, January 10
Algeria vs Nigeria — 5:00pm (local time)
Egypt vs Côte d’Ivoire — 8:00pm (local time)
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Eight teams remain in contention, but only four will progress to the last four of the competition. Several of the current top scorers are involved in these fixtures, meaning the Golden Boot standings could change dramatically.
Algeria captain Mahrez alongside goalkeeper Luca Zidane. Photo Credit: Imago
History suggests the Golden Boot winner often comes from a team that goes deep into the competition, and with Morocco, Senegal, Nigeria and Cameroon still in contention, the race remains wide open.
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AFCON 2025 Top Scorers (after the Round of 16 — M: matches, G: goals)
4 goals
Brahim Díaz (Morocco) – M: 4 | G: 4
3 goals
Ademola Lookman (Nigeria) – M: 3 | G: 3
Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – M: 3 | G: 3
Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) – M: 4 | G: 3
Ayoub El Kaabi (Morocco) – M: 4 | G: 3
Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – M: 3 | G: 3
Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) – M: 2 | G: 3
2 goals
Christian Kofane (Cameroon) – M: 3 | G: 2
Pape Gueye (Senegal) – M: 3 | G: 2
Lyle Foster (South Africa) – M: 4 | G: 2
Oswin Appollis (South Africa) – M: 4 | G: 2
Elias Achouri (Tunisia) – M: 4 | G: 2
Raphael Onyedika (Nigeria) – M: 1 | G: 2
Gaël Kakuta (DR Congo) – M: 1 | G: 2
Chérif Ndiaye (Senegal) – M: 2 | G: 2
Nicolas Jackson (Senegal) – M: 3 | G: 2
Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) – M: 3 | G: 2
Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire) – M: 3 | G: 2
Geny Catamo (Mozambique) – M: 3 | G: 2
