By Caleb Ayemere
With the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers set to begin, attention will turn to the players who have consistently delivered goals during the competition’s qualifying campaigns.
Ahead of the latest qualification series, a review of all-time AFCON qualifying statistics shows the leading scorers to have emerged from several generations of African football, with Mohamed Salah, Victor Osimhen, Sadio Mané and other established stars featuring prominently.
The ranking below is based on statistics compiled by Transfermarkt for AFCON qualifying matches and highlights the players with the most goals in the history of the qualifiers.
1. Mohamed Salah (Egypt) — 20 Goals
Egypt’s captain debuted in qualifying cycles in 2011. Over seven qualifying campaigns, Salah’s consistency helped cement Egypt’s position as the most successful nation in AFCON history, leading to his status as the highest-scoring player in preliminary history. The Egyptian skipper leads the all-time qualifying records. Combining longevity with world-class consistency, Salah’s 20 preliminary strikes have helped power Egypt’s presence in international football throughout his international career.
2. Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) — 17 Goals
Emerging as Nigeria’s premier striker, Osimhen achieved his tally of 17 qualifying goals in just 16 matches. Nigeria’s star frontman boasts an unprecedented goal-per-game record in AFCON qualifiers, averaging more than a goal every time he features in preliminary fixtures.
3. Sadio Mané (Senegal) — 15 Goals
Since making his international debut, Mané has served as the focal point of Senegal’s national team. His 15 qualifier goals over 35 matches fueled Senegal’s qualification runs, culminating in their 2021 AFCON title victory. A pivotal figure in Senegal’s national team setup, Mané has delivered 15 crucial qualifying goals over seven campaign appearances.
4. Knowledge Musona (Zimbabwe) — 15 Goals
Appearances: 23
Nicknamed “The Smiling Assassin,” Musona anchored Zimbabwe’s national team attack for over a decade. He regularly scored against higher-ranked opposition to lead Zimbabwe through seven preliminary campaigns. “The Smiling Assassin,” Musona consistently stepped up for Zimbabwe during qualifying runs across seven editions of the preliminary campaign.
5. Vincent Aboubakar (Cameroon) — 15 Goals
A veteran across eight qualifying cycles, Aboubakar established himself as one of Cameroon’s most reliable modern goalscorers, consistently delivering key qualifying goals to keep the Indomitable Lions on the main stage. Cameroon’s powerful center-forward shares the 15-goal mark, proving to be a reliable fixture in preliminary stages across eight different qualification cycles.
6. Getaneh Kebede (Ethiopia) — 14 Goals
Kebede emerged as one of East Africa’s most prolific international forwards during the 2010s, providing Ethiopia with an exceptional scoring rate of 0.61 goals per game in qualifying rounds. One of the most efficient international strikers for Ethiopia, Kebede averaged well over a goal every two qualifying matches.
7. Stéphane Sessègnon (Benin) — 14 Goals
Operating as an attacking midfielder rather than a traditional centre-forward, Benin’s long-serving captain built a 14-goal record across eight preliminary editions. Benin’s long-serving attacking playmaker produced remarkable numbers from midfield, accumulating 14 goals over eight qualifying participations.
8 Issam Jemâa (Tunisia) — 13 Goals
Tunisia’s all-time international top scorer produced 12 of his national team goals during AFCON qualification fixtures in just four tournament campaigns, needing only 15 matches to reach the mark
9. El Arbi Hillel Soudani (Algeria) — 12 Goals
Soudani was Algeria’s primary goal threat during the early-to-mid 2010s, racking up 12 preliminary goals in just 15 qualifier appearances (0.80 goals per match). A lethal finisher for Algeria, Soudani netted 12 goals in just 15 qualifier appearances to hold one of the highest strike rates on the list.
10. Ryan Mendes (Cape Verde) — 12 Goals
Mendes played a central role in Cape Verde’s rise as a competitive force in African football, delivering 12 preliminary goals across eight qualifying cycles. A cornerstone of Cape Verde’s football growth, Mendes racked up 12 preliminary strikes across eight qualifying cycles.
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