Osimhen and Mane in two-horse race for AFCON qualifying top scorer honour

Napoli forward, Victor Osimhen will be hoping he can re-enact the feat that saw him score four goals last June in Nigeria’s 10-0 mauling of their host, São Tomé and Príncipe in the matchday 2 clash in as he bids to outscore Senegal’s Sadio Mane with just two games left in the 2023 AFCON qualifiers.

Osimhen who was the top scoring African in Europe’s big leagues in the 2022/23 season and Serie A top scorer has scored five times in the qualifiers so far, same as Mane.

The Napoli forward scored the winner in Nigeria’s 2-1 defeat of Sierra Leone in their opening group game of the qualifiers in June last year and 24 year old will be seeking to score again in Sunday’s reverse fixture at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia, Liberia.

Nigeria needs a draw to confirm their qualification.

Mane scored all the three goals in Senegal’s 3-1 defeat of Benin Republic at the Diamniadio Olympic Stadium in Dakar last year June in their opening group game.

The Bayern Munich forward scored the only goal in the 1-0 defeat of Rwanda and once in the 5-1 mauling of Mozambique.

Mane however fired blanks in Senegal’s 1-1 draw at Benin Republic Saturday night with only the game against Rwanda left in September.

If Osimhen scores on Sunday, he will move above Mane and can complete the job when the Super Eagles host São Tomé and Príncipe in September.

The Napoli forward is looking to succeed Odion Ighalo who finished the qualifying games for the 2019 AFCON with seven goals.

The former Watford and Manchester United forward also ended the tournament proper in Egypt as the top scorer with five goals.