5 favorites to win the Golden Boot at AFCON 2025

The 2025 African Cup of Nations (AFCON) is well underway, and the competition has reached the Round of 16. The group stage offered nothing short of excitement as fans were thrilled by spectacular moments in Morocco.

A total of 87 goals was recorded across 36 group stage matches, setting the stage for the much-anticipated knockout phase. Goals are often the difference between glory and exit in major competitions like the AFCON, and the top players strive to find the net in every game to propel their team all the way.

The race for the 2025 AFCON Golden Boot is expected to gather more momentum in the elimination stage, and this piece will focus on the top favourites for the award.

#5 Mohamed Salah - Egypt

Angola vs Egypt Group B - 2025 Africa Cup Of Nations - Source: Getty

Mohammed Salah arrived at the tournament on the back of a difficult period with his club, Liverpool. But the prolific winger did not let his club issues get the better of him as he kicked off the tournament with a stoppage-time winning goal against Zimbabwe.

The 31-year-old was the Pharaoh's hero in their next game against South Africa, netting the game's lone goal from the penalty spot to ensure qualification to the next round for Egypt.

With a place in the Round of 16 in the bag, Salah was an unused sub in Egypt's final game, a goalless draw with Angola. However, he is expected to return to the starting XI when they take on Benin on Monday, January 5.

Egypt last lifted the AFCON in 2010, and Salah will hope to find the net more and lead them all the way to glory. He will also be looking to exceed his goal tally at an AFCON edition, having recorded two goals each in three of his last four AFCON outings (2017, 2019 and 2022).

Winning the Golden Boot would be a huge morale booster for when he returns to Liverpool, where he has managed only five goals in 20 games.

#4 Ademola Lookman - Nigeria

Tunisia vs Nigeria Group C - 2025 Africa Cup Of Nations - Source: Getty

The Super Eagles have been tipped by many to win the coveted African title this year, following a second-place finish in the last edition. Key to their 2023 exploits was Ademola Lookman, who was Nigeria's leading scorer at the tournament with three goals.

He has continued in the same fashion in the ongoing tournament, scoring two goals and providing two assists in three outings so far. The Atalanta star scored the winner against Tanzania before adding another and a brace of assists versus Tunisia.

Lookman's flair, dynamism, and eye for goal make him Nigeria's most deadly figure in the final third. Should Nigeria progress further in the competition, more will be expected from the 2024 African Footballer of the Year.

#3 Brahim Diaz - Morocco

Morocco v Mali: Group A - Africa Cup Of Nations - Source: Getty

Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz is one of the frontrunners for the 2025 AFCON Golden Boot. The 26-year-old scored the tournament's first goal in a 2-0 win over Comoros, followed by strikes against Mali and Zambia.

In doing so, he became the first Moroccan to score in every AFCON group stage match since 1976. Playing on home soil, the Atlas Lions are one of the leading favourites for the title, and Diaz has shown that he is instrumental to their success.

With his performances so far, the Spian-born midfielder is also a favourite for the Player of the Tournament.

#2 Ayoub El Kaabi - Morocco

Morocco v Mali: Group A - Africa Cup Of Nations - Source: Getty

Diaz has been one of Morocco's standout stars at the tournament, but one player who has won the fans' hearts is Ayoub El Kaabi. The Olympiacos striker has produced moments of magic in front of goal, with two acrobatic strikes among his three goals so far.

El Kaabi came off the bench in the opening fixture versus Comoros (2-0) and doubled his side's lead with an overhead kick finish. This show of brilliance earned him a starting shirt in subsequent games, and he bagged a brace in their final group game against Zambia (3-0) after firing a blank against Mali (1-1).

His two bicycle kick goals are contenders for the Goal of the Tournament.

#1 Riyad Mahrez - Algeria

Algeria v Burkina Faso: Group E - Africa Cup Of Nations - Source: Getty

Algeria and Nigeria are the only two teams that secured maximum points, winning all three of their group stage games. Pivotal to this success is their captain and legendary forward, Riyad Mahrez.

The former Manchester City man scored a brace in their opener, a 3-0 win over Sudan. He then scored the winner from the penalty spot for a 1-0 victory over Burkina Faso. Mahrez was rested against Equatorial Guinea, and the Desert Foxes still recorded a comfortable 3-1 win, sending a strong message of being title contenders.

During Algeria's AFCON title win in 2019, Mahrez registered three goals, two shy of eventual Golden Boot winner Nigeria's Odion Ighalo. He will have his eyes on the accolade this time around as he looks to guide his country to a third AFCON title.

Edited by Okenna Okere