Galatasaray of Turkey striker, Victor James Osimhen may turn out to be the subsequent Nigerian striker to emerge high scorer of the Africa Cup of Nations after Segun Odegbami and Rashidi Yekini confirmed the way in which, with Odion Jude Ighalo getting it final.
Sports247 stories that Yekini bought the award twice (with 4 targets in 1992 and 5 in 1994), whereas Ighalo was highest with 5 strikes in 2019, earlier than which Odegbami took the award with three targets when Nigeria first received the title in 1980 on residence soil.
Julius Efosa Aghahowa was joint-highest additionally with three targets in 2002, Austin Okocha was a joint-top scorer with 4 targets, alongside three different gamers in 2004, and Emmanuel Emenike did similar in serving to Nigeria win their third title at AFCON 2013 however needed to share it with Ghana’s Mubarak Wakaso.
One other tight race is now on at AFCON 2025, with the award prone to go right down to the wire throughout the final final 4 video games – two semi-finals, a third-place match and the grand finale.
This comes after Osimhen took his AFCON 2025 targets haul to 4 on Saturday, to arrange a terse race for the continued competitors’s high scorer’s award alongside Morocco’s Brahim Diaz.
Osimhen lived as much as expectations on Saturday, as he emerged man of the match, after scoring one and assisted one other, to assist Nigeria defeat Algeria 2-0 and attain the semi-finals of AFCON 2025.
The Tremendous Eagles’ hitman overcame aftereffects of his on-field blast throughout their 4-0 trouncing of Mozambique within the spherical of 16, as he led Nigeria with a forty seventh minute purpose and 57th minute help for Akor Adams to make it 2-0 in Marrakech, Morocco.
Osimhen’s beautiful header took him simply two targets behind Yekini’s 37 on the roll name of Nigeria’s all-time high scorers and only one wanting Morocco’s Diaz on the log at AFCON 2025, forward of Wednesday’s semi-final in Rabat.
Whereas Diaz set a brand new file by scoring in 5 straight matches at AFCON 2025, Osimhen enjoys the leverage of netting one towards Tunisia and two versus Mozambique earlier than his effort on Saturday, which was the primary to be conceded by Zinedine Zidane’s son (Luca) in purpose for Algeria.
Dramatically, Osimhen will come head-to-head with Actual Madrid of Spain attacker, Diaz on Wednesday, as Nigeria, who additionally now have a file of 14 targets in a single AFCON competitors, face the hosts in a decisive last-four tie that guarantees to be extra explosive than some other.
Aside from being a conflict between two in-form groups, it may determine the final word champions in addition to who goes residence with the AFCON 2025 high scorer’s prize within the remaining subsequent Sunday, January 18th.
It could even be a possibility for Sevilla of Spain attacker, Akor Adams to internet his third purpose of AFCON 2025 and get due reward for the exhausting work he has finished all by way of this competitors, however his day appeared jinxed versus Algeria.
He’ll intention to make up for ill-luck that lower him quick to only a purpose on Saturday, as he missed a sitter, had one saved by the keeper early within the first half after which hit the upright halfway by way of the second half.
Additionally within the combine is 2024 African Footballer of The 12 months, Ademola Lookman who has three targets and 4 assists to his title, with the chance of two matches left for him to attempt extra in snatching the purpose chief’s gong for AFCON 2025.
