As the sun sets on the group stages in Morocco, the chatter in the cafes of Rabat and Marrakech isn't just about who will win the trophy—it’s about who will take home the coveted Golden Boot.
AFCON 2025 has been a festival of attacking football. Unlike previous editions where defensive "low blocks" often stifled games, the Moroccan climate and pristine pitches have encouraged a faster, more clinical style of play. From towering headers to long-range screamers, the race to be Africa’s "King of Goals" is tighter than ever.
Here is the state of play in the race for the Golden Boot as we head into the knockout rounds.
I. The Leaderboard: The Top 3
1. The Apex Predator: Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – 4 Goals
Nigeria’s "Masked Assassin" has lived up to every bit of his pre-tournament hype. Finishing the group stages with four goals, Osimhen has been a force of nature. His goals haven't just been about power; they’ve been about movement.
The Highlight: His brace against Benin was a masterclass in poaching, ghosting between center-backs to finish with one touch.
The Verdict: With Nigeria’s creative midfield clicking, Osimhen is currently the man to beat.
2. The Local Icon: Brahim Díaz (Morocco) – 3 Goals
The Real Madrid star has taken to the Moroccan turf like he was born to play in these specific stadiums. Playing with the weight of a nation on his shoulders, Díaz has provided the spark for the Atlas Lions.
The Style: Unlike Osimhen’s traditional "No. 9" play, Díaz has been scoring "Arriving Goals"—late runs into the box and a spectacular solo effort against Sierra Leone that saw him dribble past three defenders.
The Verdict: Playing at home gives him an "energy boost" that few can match.
3. The Dark Horse: Lassine Sinayoko (Mali) – 3 Goals
If you asked casual fans before the tournament who would be in the top three, few would have named Sinayoko. Yet, the Malian forward has been the most efficient striker in the competition.
The Surprise Factor: He doesn't need ten chances to score; he only needs one. His clinical finishing from tight angles has been the backbone of Mali’s success in Group E.
The Verdict: If Mali goes deep into the semi-finals, Sinayoko could pull off a massive upset.
II. Efficiency Watch: Goals Per Minute
While the total goal count grabs the headlines, the "Efficiency Table" tells a different story.
The "Super-Sub" Award currently goes to Senegal’s Nicolas Jackson. Despite only starting one game, Jackson has netted twice coming off the bench. He is averaging a goal every 42 minutes of play—the highest ratio in the tournament. For any coach facing Senegal in the knockouts, Jackson is a "Red Alert" substitution.
III. The Architects: Top Assist Providers
A striker is only as good as the service he receives. The race for the "Playmaker Award" is equally fierce:
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): 3 Assists. His overlapping runs have provided the ammunition for Díaz and En-Nesyri.
Mohamed Salah (Egypt): 2 Assists. While Salah has been quieter in front of goal himself, he has reinvented himself as the "Chief Creator" for the Pharaohs, drawing three defenders to him before releasing his teammates.
IV. Historic Context: Chasing the Ghost of 1974
Every Golden Boot race in AFCON history lives in the shadow of Ndaye Mulamba, the Zairean legend who scored 9 goals in the 1974 edition.
Is Mulamba’s record under threat in 2025? With Osimhen on 4 goals heading into the Round of 16, he would need to score at a rate of more than one goal per game in the knockouts to reach 10. While unlikely, the expanded 24-team format gives modern strikers more opportunities than Mulamba had. We are also well on track to beat Emilio Nsue’s 5-goal tally from the 2023 edition.
V. Prediction: Who Takes it Home?
The Golden Boot is often won by the player whose team goes the furthest. For that reason, Victor Osimhen remains the favorite. Nigeria’s bracket looks favorable, and Osimhen is the designated penalty taker—a massive advantage in high-stakes knockout games.
However, don't count out a late surge from Senegal’s Sadio Mané or Egypt’s Mohamed Salah. Historically, these legends save their best scoring outbursts for the "Win or Go Home" matches.
Conclusion: More Than Just a Trophy
In Morocco 2025, the Golden Boot represents more than just a personal accolade. For a player like Sinayoko, it represents a potential multi-million dollar transfer to a top European league. For a veteran like Osimhen, it is about cementing his legacy as the greatest African striker of his generation.
The group stage was the warm-up. In the knockouts, every goal is worth its weight in gold.