AFCON 2025: Lookman, Osimhen, Salah help create goalscoring history in Morocco

AFCON 2025 in Morocco has delivered a tournament for the history books, smashing long-standing records and redefining attacking football on the continent.

With goals flowing freely from the group stages to the knockout rounds, Africa’s biggest stars have ensured this edition will be remembered for its relentless entertainment.

The TotalEnergies CAF Africa Cup of Nations Morocco 2025 has officially become the highest-scoring edition in the competition’s history, with 120 goals scored ahead of Sunday’s final.

That figure surpasses the previous record of 119 goals set at AFCON 2023 in Côte d’Ivoire and comfortably eclipses the 102 goals recorded at Egypt 2019, the first edition expanded to 24 teams.

The numbers tell a deeper story about the evolution of African football. Rather than cautious, risk-averse tactics, teams embraced expansive systems and attacking freedom.

Heavyweights such as Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco and Côte d’Ivoire led the charge, while emerging nations matched them stride for stride, producing thrilling comebacks, late winners and end-to-end encounters.

Morocco 2025 silenced critics of the 24-team format, proving that greater depth has enhanced competition rather than diluted quality.

At the heart of this historic run are some of Africa’s brightest attacking talents. Morocco’s Brahim Diaz leads the scoring charts with five goals, but he is being closely chased by Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, who both sit on four goals each with matches still to play.

Nigeria’s influence goes even deeper, with the most goals in the competition (14). Super Eagles forwards Ademola Lookman, Osimhen and Akor Adams have combined for nine goals and eight assists, making them one of the tournament’s most productive attacking units.

Lookman has been directly involved in a tournament-high seven goals, scoring three and assisting four, underlining his all-round impact.

As AFCON 2025 approaches its finale, the numbers already guarantee its legacy. Beyond records and statistics, this tournament has delivered an entertaining spectacle.