Top goals in Africa Cup of Nations History
When sifting through the history of African football, rich in its moments of passion and glory, there are many great unforgettable stories that come to mind, specially the goals that have been scored. Read on to find out more about the top goals in Africa Cup of Nations history.
There is lots to admire at an international football tournament such as clever technical play, smart possession-based football, and astute defending. Yet, nothing quite sums up a football tournament, defines it, even, than the goals that were scored.
Think of any football tournament and you will instantly think back to a goal from that tournament, which forever lives on in your memory.
The AFCON 2021 has come and gone, yet memories of the competition will remain engraved in the minds of millions of fans around the world.
From record breaking to first participations to the elimination of the top favorites, these and more especially some very fine, clinical and mouthwatering goals can be outstandingly remembered.
, playing for the Cameroonian national team, scored eight goals, and therefore he was entitled the top scorer at the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
Youssouf M'Changama's wonderful free kick scored against Cameroon in the round of 16 will be the best goal scored by a Comorian in the AFCON for decades to come. Precision, power and accuracy in execution could all be found in one kick.
's long range goal against Morocco is one that the Malawians will surely still be celebrating as we speak. The Orlando Pirates player's goal is arguably still the best in the AFCON 2021.
In that same round of 16 game after Malawi drew level with Morocco, it needed a trade mark free kick from Morocco's right back Hakimi to send Morocco into the quarter finals. Hakimi had earlier in the group stages produced a jewel in a free kick against Gabon.
Youssef Msakni's beauty was all it needed to eliminate Nigeria at the round of 16. His goal saw Tunisia into the quarter finals.
Karl Toko Ekambi's second goal against Ethiopia in Cameroon's second group game against
Ethiopiawas a replica of the player's current scoring form in Europe. He messed with a majority of the Ethiopian backline before slotting home from a counter attack action which he had initiated.
As the
AFCON best team of 2022
, Senegal had finished as champions earlier, dispatching Burkina Faso in the quarter finals 3-1.
Sadio Manesealed the deal with an audacious chip for the third goal. His calmness in front of goal once again was called to action.
Clearly the goals department of the AFCON 2021 has had difficult times to pronounce which of those was the goal of the tournament.
Best Goals from the African Cup of Nations:
The Africa Cup of Nations has a plenty of beautiful goals which means the beauty for the football lovers. There are goals that that this tournament will be remembered for. Here's the best goals from the Africa Cup of Nations history and the
top African national goalscorers
.
Jonathan Ayité (Togo vs Ivory Coast, 2013)
Full name: Jonathan Serge Folly Ayité
Date of birth: 21 July 1985 (age 36)
Place of birth: Bordeaux, France
Height: 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s): Striker
From Togo comes this clever corner routine. The stepover at the near post confuses the
Ivory Coastdefense at first, but there's still much work to do for Jonathan Ayite. He finishes with aplomb.
Jonathan Serge Folly Ayité (born 21 July 1985) is a Togolese professional footballer who played as a striker for Olympiakos Nicosia and the Togo national football team.
In 2013, he played 3 matches at 2013 Africa Cup of Nations where his national team reached the quarterfinals. In the 2016–17 winter transfer window, Ayité left Alanyaspor for TFF First League club Yeni Malatyaspor.
On 11 October 2018, Ayité signed for Keşla FK until the end of the 2018–19 season. On 20 August 2019, Ayité signed for Cypriot First Division club Olympiakos Nicosia.
Ivory Coast launched its African Cup of Nations campaign with a 2-1 victory over Togo after Gervinho scored an 88th-minute winner.
Yaya Toure had scored from inside the area less than 10 minutes into the match after a move started by Gervinho, and Jonathan Ayite equalized for Togo from a corner just before halftime as the teams opened play in Group D on a hot afternoon in the northwestern city of Rustenburg. The goal was among the
top goals in Africa Cup of Nations history
.
Togo nearly equalized again in the fourth and final minute of added time, but Floyd Ayite’s header from close range drew a great save from Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry.
Kelechi Iheanacho (Nigeria vs Egypt, 2021)
Full name: Kelechi Promise Iheanacho
Date of birth: 3 October 1996 (age 25)
Place of birth: Owerri, Nigeria
Height: 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s): Forward
opened their Nations Cup campaign with a 1-0 win over the Pharaohs, and the goal was worthy to win any game.
After controlling the ball from a headed Joe Aribo pass, Iheanacho struck the ball into the top right corner of Mohamed El Shenawy’s goal with minimal back lift to send the Super Eagles ahead on the half-hour.
It was typical of the Leicester City front man who makes it a habit scoring from nothing.
(born 3 October 1996) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Premier League club Leicester City and the Nigeria national team.
Iheanacho began his senior career at Manchester City during the 2015–16 season. He moved to
Leicester Cityin 2017 for a reported £25 million fee.
Iheanacho was part of the Nigeria squad that won the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup and the Nigeria U-20 team at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He made his senior debut for Nigeria in 2015, and played at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.
Gabadinho Mhango (Malawi vs Morocco, 2022)
Full name: Hellings Frank Mhango
Date of birth: 27 September 1992 (age 29)
Place of birth: Chiweta, Malawi
Height: 1.62 m (5 ft 4 in)
Position(s): Striker
It had no particular significance other than to scare
Moroccoat the opening of the game, but Mhango's goal was outstanding.
When he received the ball on Malawi's left flank, he had very likely already planned to shoot from distance. And he did it from around 38 yards with a defender at his heels and another one who was about to block his way.
The Moroccan goalkeeper Yassine Bounou, who was obviously surprised, detected the path of the ball but the power and accuracy created by Gabadinho was perfect and the ball fell towards the net as soon as it passed Bounou.
Hellings Frank "Gabadinho" Mhango (born 27 September 1992) is a Malawian international footballer who plays for South African club Orlando Pirates and the Malawi national team, as a striker.
Mhango has played club football for Brave Warriors, Big Bullets, Bloemfontein Celtic, Lamontville Golden Arrows and Bidvest Wits. In June 2019, he signed for Orlando Pirates.
He made his international debut for Malawi in 2012. In September 2012, Mhango was called to the Malawi squad for the forthcoming
Africa Cup of Nations
qualifying match against
Ghana.
In May 2013, it was announced that he would be unavailable for two forthcoming World Cup qualifying matches due to his school exams. Mhango scored twice in Malawi's first 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Chad on 17 May 2014.
Mubarak Wakaso (Ghana vs. Cape Verde, 2013)
Full name: Mubarak Wakaso
Date of birth: 25 July 1990 (age 31)
Place of birth: Tamale, Ghana
Height: 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s): Midfielder
When a goalkeeper heads up the field to attack a corner, two thrilling scenarios can potentially unfold. The first is that the goalkeeper scores. The second is that the defending team break quickly and score into an unprotected net. Wakaso scores in the 95th minute of the game.
Mubarak Wakaso (born 25 July 1990) is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Chinese club Shenzhen F.C. and the Ghana national team as a midfielder.
He spent the better part of his career in Spain, starting out at Elche in 2008 and going on to also represent Villarreal, Espanyol, Las Palmas, Granada and Alaves. He also competed professionally in Russia, Scotland, Greece and China.
Wakaso appeared with the Ghana national team at the 2014 World Cup, as well as five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
Wakaso represented Ghana at the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship in Peru, playing two matches in an eventual group stage exit (three draws). He made his full international debut on 13 October 2012, in a 2013 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against
Malawi.
On 14 November 2012, Wakaso scored his first goal in a friendly with Cape Verde. He was picked for the squad that appeared at the 2013 CAN in South Africa, notably netting the game's only goal in a group stage fixture against Mali, through a penalty kick, then scoring both in the 2–0 quarter-final win over Cape Verde.
Wakaso was selected by manager James Kwesi Appiah for his 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. He made his debut in the tournament on 21 June, playing 22 minutes in a 2–2 draw with
Germany.
On 5 February 2015, Wakaso netted the second goal in Ghana's 3–0 victory against Equatorial Guinea in the semi-finals of the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations to take them to the final. In the decisive match, against the Ivory Coast, he scored his penalty shootout attempt in an eventual 9–8 loss.
Jonathan Pitroipa (Burkina Faso vs. Togo, 2013)
Full name: Beninwende Yann Jonathan Pitroipa
Date of birth: 12 April 1986 (age 35)
Place of birth: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s): Winger
A simple goal from a corner that nevertheless came from a perfect cross and was finished with a very good header. Jonathan Pitroipa rises to head home from a difficult angle, winning the game for Burkina Faso against Togo.
Beninwende Yann Jonathan Pitroipa (born 12 April 1986) is a Burkinabé former professional footballer who played as a winger.
Since making his debut for Burkina Faso in 2006, he has featured at the 2010, 2012, and 2013 editions of the African Cup of Nations, scoring two goals in the 2013 tournament as Burkina Faso reached the final. He was also chosen the Player of the Tournament.
He played for SC Freiburg, Hamburger SV, Rennes, Al Jazira Club, Al-Nasr, Antwerp, and Paris FC at his club career.
Pitroipa made his debut for
Burkina Fasoin 2006. On 20 June 2009, he scored a 27th-minute goal against the Ivory Coast to put the score at 1–1 and a later own goal put his side into a 2–1 lead before a late fightback from the Elephants secured a 3–2 victory for Ivory Coast in the third round of CAF 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
Pitroipa was part of the final squads at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations in Angola and the 2012 edition in Equatorial Guinea.
Following his success in Ligue 1, Pitroipa was called up to the Burkina Faso squad to the 2013 African Cup of Nations. In the tournament, he scored an injury time goal against Ethiopia in their second group game, securing a 4–0 victory for his country.
Burkina Faso advanced out of the group stage and into the quarter-finals of the competition where they faced Togo on 3 February, and Pitroipa scored the only goal of the game in the 105th minute to send the Stallions into the semi-finals.
Pitroipa was controversially sent off in the semi-final game of the competition against
Ghana, when he was booked for simulation in the 117th minute while it appeared that he had been fouled in the penalty box.
The Stallions overcame his sending off and won 3–2 in the penalty shoot-out after the game had finished 1–1 after extra time, booking the country's first ever trip to the African Cup of Nations final.
The red card was later overturned by the CAF executive committee after referee Slim Jedidi admitted to having made a mistake by showing the second yellow card.
Burkina Faso lost in the final to Nigeria by a score of 1–0, but Pitroipa was named as the "Player of the Tournament" by CAF. He retired from international football in December 2019.
Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia vs Mauritania, 2021)
Full name: Wahbi Khazri
Date of birth: 8 February 1991 (age 31)
Place of birth: Ajaccio, Corsica, France
Height: 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s): Attacking midfielder, Forward
Tunisia’s needed a big performance after a 1-0 defeat by Mali in their opening game and they delivered in a 4-0 success over
Mauritania.
This game had a few striking goals but Khazri’s second was probably the finest.
A goal involving Ali Maaloul, Ghailene Chaalali and the goal scorer, the Carthage of Eagles star man put his team 3-0 up just after the hour mark.
After sending the ball out to the overlapping Maaloul, Chaalali continued his forward run. The left-back sent a pass into Khazri inside the box but the attacker deceived the Mauritania defense with a dummy, went round his marker and coolly slotted the ball past Babacar Diop after Chaalali set him up. Indeed, one of the tournament’s finest goals.
Wahbi Khazri (born 8 February 1991), is a Tunisian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or as a forward for French Ligue 1 club Saint-Étienne and the Tunisia national team.
Khazri is the captain of the Tunisia national team; he has played over 60 matches and scored 24 goals for the side since 2013, and represented Tunisia at five Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In the third match of the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification against Mauritania, on 7 October 2021, he scored his 22nd goal in the colors of Tunisia, thus becoming the second top scorer in the selection behind Issam Jemâa (36 goals).
On the second day of the group stage of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, Khazri scored his first double of the competition against Mauritania, in a match where the Eagles of Carthage won 4–0.
Alain Traore (Burkina Faso vs. Ethiopia, 2013)
Full name: Sibiri Alain Traoré
Date of birth: 31 December 1988 (age 33)
Place of birth: Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s): Striker
Alain Traore was one of the standout stars of Africa Cup of Nations 2013 until injury cruelly robbed him of his chance to make an appearance in the final.
Here, Traore shows great technique to bring the ball under control, before finishing emphatically.
Sibiri Alain Traoré (born 31 December 1988) is a Burkinabé footballer who plays as a striker for Arta/Solar7, and the Burkina Faso national team. He started his career with local side Planète Champion, before moving to France as a 17-year-old.
Traoré represented Burkina Faso at under-17 level, where they qualified for the 2005 African U-17 Championship. He scored one goal in the 3–1 defeat to Mali.
He also scored one goal in the 2012 African Cup of Nations, versus Angola. He scored the goal (in the sixth minute of injury time), which took Burkina Faso through to the 2013 African Cup of Nations at the expense of the Central African Republic, and then scored three goals in the 2013 final tournament itself.
Alain Traore (Burkina Faso vs. Ghana, 2017)
Full name: Sibiri Alain Traoré
Date of birth: 31 December 1988 (age 33)
Place of birth: Bobo Dioulasso, Burkina Faso
Height: 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s): Striker
On 4 February 2017, Traoré scored a wonderful free kick against Ghana in the third-place playoff in the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations in Gabon. The goal was scored in the 89th minute and went on to win the bronze medal for Burkina Faso.
Alain Traore scored the only goal during a third-place match at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations, as Burkina Faso beat Ghana 1-0 and to clinch third place at the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Black Stars dominated most of the match but didn't convert their chances, and Traore struck close to the final whistle, bending home a free-kick.
The bronze-medal game in Port-Gentil appeared to be headed for penalties, but the attacking midfielder decided different with a sublime free-kick into the top corner with one minute left to go.
From the right of the 18-yard box, Traore hammered a left-footed effort into the top corner of the net. His goal was rightfully among the
top goals in Africa Cup of Nations history
.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco vs Malawi, 2021)
Full name: Achraf Hakimi Mouh
Date of birth: 4 November 1998 (age 23)
Place of birth: Madrid, Spain
Height: 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s): Right-back
is a professional footballer who plays for Ligue 1 club Paris Saint-Germain and the Morocco national team.
Widely considered as one of the best in his position, he mainly plays as a right wing-back or right-back, although he can also play on the left or as a right winger.
Born in Spain to parents from Morocco, Hakimi represented Morocco at various youth levels, before making his international debut in 2016 aged 17, after previously being capped by the nation's youth teams at under-20 and under-23 levels.
He was chosen in Morocco's squads for the FIFA World Cup in 2018 and the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and 2021. He also played for
Real Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, and Inter Milan clubs.
While Youssouf M'Changama’s brilliant free-kick for Comoros in their 2-1 defeat by
Cameroonand Hakimi’s dead-ball against Gabon ran this one close, the Morocco star’s winning free-kick against Malawi was a joy to behold.
Despite the set-piece seemingly favoring a left-footer, the Paris Saint-German wide defender curled the effort up and over the wall and past Charles Thom who had denied Hakimi earlier in the game and was having a brilliant match.
Hakimi netted two incredible free-kicks at the finals but the importance of the strike against Malawi sees it outrank his Gabon effort. It is definitely one of the
top goals in Africa Cup of Nations history
.
Gabadinho Mhango scored a rocket of a goal in the seventh minute for Malawi. Youssef En-Nesyri equalized for Morocco just before half-time with a header. Achraf Hakimi then scored the winner for Morocco with a terrific free-kick. As a result, Morocco progressed to the AFCON quarter-finals.
Hakimi curled in a long-range free kick as Morocco came from behind to beat Malawi 2-1 in the last-16 of the Africa Cup of Nations.
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