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From Asamoah Gyan's goal that broke American hearts to Sunday Oliseh's screamer against Spain, see five of the best African goals at the World Cup
The FIFA World Cup is the grandest stage of football, often inspiring players to try the unthinkable and the sublime.
For a football Mundial in its 92nd year of existence, the World Cup has seen its fair share of spectacular goals including the famous Diego Maradona's 'Hand of God' goal.
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Africa can also lay hold to some technically-superior and aesthetically-pleasing goals at the World Cup, some of which are part of the historic fabric with which the World Cup lore is sewn.
Thus, we will look at the Top 5 goals scored by an African player at the FIFA World Cup as the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup draws near.
Papa Bouba Diop vs France (2002 World Cup)
World Cup debutants Senegal against defending champions France in the opening game of a World Cup - sounds like the perfect setup for a Senegal drubbing.
However, the Teranga Lions pulled off an upset for the ages, a 1-0 victory over France courtesy of a Bouba Diop goal in the 30th minute.
While the finish itself was a mangled effort past Fabien Barthez and Emmanuel Petit, the lightning-fast counter-attack with which El-Hadji Diouf tore through the French defence was a sight to behold.
The win also set off France's capitulation at the Korea-Japan 2002 World Cup where they crashed out from the group stages with zero wins, zero goals, and one point.
Asamoah Gyan vs USA (2010 World Cup)
The Black Stars of Ghana had entered extra-time with the United States of America after a 1-1 regulation time draw in the Round of 16.
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Campaigning to become only the third African country to reach the quarterfinals of a World Cup, Asamoah Gyan delivered the goods just three (3) minutes into extra time.
The Ghanaian forward showed impressive skill to control a wickedly-bouncing cross before holding off two American defenders to slam the ball past Tim Howard in the U.S. goal.
Roger Milla vs Colombia (1990 World Cup)
Unarguably Africa's greatest goalscorer at the World Cup, Roger Milla had a four-goal haul at the Italy 1990 World Cup.
Perhaps, the pick of Milla's bunch was his second against Romania in the Indomitable Lions' second match of the group stages.
Milla latched onto a slightly-dummied layoff header from Francois Omam-Biyik before unleashing a powerful shot into the roof of the net past Silviu Lung in the Romanian goal.
Of course, Roger Milla's goals at the World Cup were overshadowed by his colourful dancing celebrations but take nothing away from this beauty.
Siphiwe Tshabalala vs Mexico (2010 World Cup)
Termed the 'goal for all of Africa' by the legendary football commentator Peter Drury, Tshabalala's wonder goal at the South Africa 2010 World Cup had it all.
The opening goal of the opening match in the first World Cup to be hosted on African soil, the significance of the goal was felt from Johannesburg to Lagos to Tripoli.
The presence of mind to take an audacious shot from a difficult angle on the left flank is deserving of being the match-winner of any World Cup match.
A choreographed dancing celebration by Tshabalala and his South African teammates was the icing on the cake of the goal.
Sunday Oliseh vs Spain (1998 World Cup)
Buoyed by recent Olympics and Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) titles, the Super Eagles' 'Golden Generation' went to the France 1998 World Cup full of hope.
In one of the matches of the tournament, Sunday Oliseh's 78th-minute rocket of a shot was the perfect closing note in an orchestra of five goals between Nigeria and Spain.
A defensive header from Jay-Jay Okocha's long throw-in into the Spain penalty area went only as far as Oliseh outside the penalty area, from which the Super Eagles midfielder unleashed a thunderous first-time volley that whistled into the net.
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The goal gave Nigeria all three points against Spain, helping them on their way to qualifying for the Round of 16.
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