AFCON 2025: Osimhen Still in Race as Díaz Leads Golden Boot Battle
Victor Osimhen may have seen Nigeria bow out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the semifinal stage, but the Super Eagles striker is still firmly in the hunt for the Golden Boot.
The 27-year-old Galatasaray forward has already netted four times in the tournament and will get one last chance to add to his tally in Saturday’s third-place playoff against Egypt.
Osimhen’s pursuit of the award carries historic significance. A single goal would see him equal the record set by Rashidi Yekini in 1994 and Odion Ighalo in 2019, who both scored five times in one AFCON edition.
A brace would take him beyond them, making him Nigeria’s all-time top scorer in a single tournament with six goals.
At the top of the chart, Morocco’s Brahim Díaz leads with five goals, despite drawing a blank in the semifinal against Nigeria.
The Real Madrid winger has been one of the standout performers of the competition and will have the chance to extend his tally in Sunday’s final against Senegal.
Osimhen is joined on four goals by Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, keeping the race alive heading into the final weekend. Just behind them, a chasing pack of five players led Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman, Côte d’Ivoire’s Amad Diallo, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi, and Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko who are all tied on three goals each.
With the finals still to come, the Golden Boot remains wide open. For Osimhen, however, Saturday’s playoff is more than just a chance at individual glory, it is an opportunity to etch his name alongside Nigeria’s greatest strikers in AFCON history.
