AFCON all-time top scorers: the full ranking

Since 1957, the Africa Cup of Nations has seen legendary goalscorers shine. Samuel Eto'o, Laurent Pokou, Rashidi Yekini, Didier Drogba, Sadio Mané… Here is the ranking of the AFCON all-time top scorers, with their achievements and the tournament's biggest goalscoring records.

AFCON all-time top scorers

Rank	Player	Country	Goals
1	Samuel Eto'o	Cameroon	18
2	Laurent Pokou	Ivory Coast	14
3	Rashidi Yekini	Nigeria	13
4	Hassan El-Shazly	Egypt	12
5	Sadio Mané	Senegal	11
5	Didier Drogba	Ivory Coast	11
5	Patrick Mboma	Cameroon	11
5	Hossam Hassan	Egypt	11
9	André Ayew	Ghana	10
9	Kalusha Bwalya	Zambia	10
9	Joël Tiéhi	Ivory Coast	10
9	Francileudo Santos	Tunisia	10
9	Mulamba Ndaye	DR Congo	10
9	Mengistu Worku	Ethiopia	10

Ranking after AFCON 2025. According to some counts, Egypt's Mohamed Salah has also reached 11 goals. Totals may vary slightly depending on the source.

1. Samuel Eto'o, the undisputed king

With 18 goals in 29 matches across six editions between 2000 and 2010, Samuel Eto'o is the all-time top scorer in AFCON history. He broke Laurent Pokou's record at the 2008 tournament, and he won the trophy twice with Cameroon, in 2000 and 2002. A record that looks very difficult to beat.

2. Laurent Pokou, the 1970s legend

For decades, Ivory Coast's Laurent Pokou was the AFCON's all-time top scorer, with 14 goals. His efficiency was remarkable: he scored his goals in very few matches. He also holds a unique record: five goals in a single match, against Ethiopia in 1970.

3. Rashidi Yekini, "The Goals Father"

Nicknamed "The Goals Father", Nigeria's Rashidi Yekini scored 13 AFCON goals. A key figure of Nigeria's golden era, he led the Super Eagles to their second continental title in 1994, finishing as the tournament's top scorer and best player. He remains Nigeria's greatest goalscoring icon at the AFCON.

4. Hassan El-Shazly, Egypt's first great striker

With 12 goals, Egypt's Hassan El-Shazly is one of the legends of the tournament's early years. He is the only player to have scored two hat-tricks in AFCON history, in 1963 and 1970.

The players on 11 goals

• Sadio Mané (Senegal): he entered the top five at AFCON 2025 with his semi-final goal against Egypt. He is also the all-time top assist provider in AFCON history, with 9 assists.
• Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast): the Chelsea legend and Ivory Coast's all-time top scorer.
• Patrick Mboma (Cameroon): a two-time African champion in 2000 and 2002, alongside Eto'o.
• Hossam Hassan (Egypt): one of the greatest goalscorers in Egyptian football history.

The players on 10 goals

Among them, two stand out for English-speaking fans:

• André Ayew (Ghana): a Black Stars stalwart who has played in many AFCON editions and scored in several of them.
• Kalusha Bwalya (Zambia): the greatest figure in Zambian football, and one of the continent's most celebrated players of the 1990s.

AFCON goalscoring records

Most goals in a single tournament: Mulamba Ndaye of Zaire (now DR Congo), with 9 goals in 1974. He is followed by Laurent Pokou (8 goals in 1970) and Cameroon's Vincent Aboubakar (8 goals at AFCON 2021).

Most goals in a single match: 5 goals, by Laurent Pokou against Ethiopia in 1970.

Most hat-tricks: two, by Hassan El-Shazly.

Could anyone break Eto'o's record?

With 18 goals, Samuel Eto'o's record looks out of reach for most active players. The closest strikers, such as Sadio Mané and Mohamed Salah, are already in their thirties. It will probably take a new generation of goalscorers to get close to that total. AFCON 2027, in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, could be where the next stars emerge.

Who is the greatest AFCON goalscorer of all time?

Eto'o, Pokou, Yekini or Mané? Share your opinion in the comments below 👇

Read more

• AFCON winners list: every champion since 1957
• The 10 greatest African footballers of all time
• AFCON 2027: dates, host countries, stadiums and format