AFCON’s Deadliest Finishers: Top 10 All-Time Goal Scorers

The Africa Cup of Nations has showcased some of the continent’s greatest attacking talents — and a handful of players rose above the rest by consistently delivering goals across tournaments. Based on recent data compiled by regional media, here are the top 10 all-time leading goal scorers in AFCON history. 

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 Highlights & What Made Them Great

Samuel Eto’o — The King of AFCON Goals

With 18 goals, Eto’o stands as the outright top scorer in AFCON history. His blend of pace, precision finishing, and consistency across tournaments cemented his status as a legendary striker for Cameroon. 

Laurent Pokou — Ivory Coast’s Goal Machine

Pokou netted 14 goals in far fewer appearances than many contemporaries, making his goal-per-game ratio one of the highest. He once scored five goals in a single AFCON match — a feat that remains unmatched to this day. 

Rashidi Yekini — Nigeria’s Proud No. 9

Yekini’s 13-goal tally underscores his role as Nigeria’s talisman. His powerful play and knack for scoring in crucial moments helped shape the Super Eagles’ status as a continental force. 

Veterans & Legends with 10+ Goals

Players like Hassan El‑Shazly, Hossam Hassan, Didier Drogba, Patrick Mboma, as well as Kalusha Bwalya, Santos, and Joël Tiéhi — all earned their spot among the greats through longevity, consistency, and an instinct for goals, leaving indelible marks on their national teams’ AFCON campaigns. 

Why This List Matters

Legacy & Inspiration: These players set the benchmark for future generations. Upcoming stars will always measure themselves against legends like Eto’o, Yekini, Pokou, and others.

Continental History: The list spans decades — from early AFCON tournaments in the 1960s to modern-day editions — reflecting changing eras, playing styles, and football evolution in Africa.

National Pride: For their countries, these top-scorers are more than athletes; they are icons whose goals brought joy, pride, and continental acclaim.

What This List Does  And Doesn’t  Show

While this ranking captures total goals, it doesn’t always reflect goals-per-match efficiency. Some players scored fewer but had higher strike rates.

It focuses only on AFCON finals tournament goals, not friendly matches or other competitions. So some prolific scorers might not appear here if their goals came outside AFCON.

Records could shift over time — active players still participating in future AFCON tournaments may climb the list, potentially reshuffling these rankings.

 Final Thought

The top 10 all-time goal scorers in AFCON history remind us why the tournament is Africa’s footballing jewel. From the cold-blooded finishing of Eto’o to the resilient strikes of Yekini, and the enduring brilliance of many others — these legends carved their names into African football lore.

Next time the AFCON kicks off, watching which players get close to these records will add another layer of excitement. Let me know if you’d like a list of top 10 scorers by goals-per-match ratio (efficiency) — it gives an interesting twist to “best ever.”