With AFCON 2023 just three days away, members of the online sports betting community will need different opportunities to get maximum value for their money. A strategic approach involves placing wagers on in-form goal-scorers, such as betting on them to score (anytime scorer, etc), or speculating on their respective countries’ overall goal count (for instance: Egypt to score over 1.5 goals, etc.). Additionally, betting on individual players to clinch the golden boot is another viable option. BetKing is widely recognized as the best betting site in Nigeria, thanks to its diverse range of betting offers that cover these aspects, coupled with consistently providing the best odds compared to other betting sites. In this piece, we will delve into the top 5 goal scorers in this edition of the AFCON. **Mohamed Salah (Egypt)** His journey here began with winning the CAF Most Promising Talent of the Year award in 2012, and he has consistently fulfilled the potential he showed back then. As a two-time African Footballer of the Year, he has amassed a remarkable collection of trophies at Liverpool, leaving a trail of dismantled opposition defences. With three Premier League Golden Boot awards to his name, his goalscoring bonafides are well-established. This season, he boasts 18 goals and 9 assists for the table-topping Reds in the EPL. Representing Egypt, he has notched an impressive 55 goals in 96 appearances and is inching closer to Hossam Hassan’s record of 68 goals in 176 matches. Despite his many achievements, one elusive title for the 31-year-old is the AFCON title. Having twice reached the final, Mo Salah, now leading the Pharaohs in Ivory Coast, hopes that the proverbial “third time’s the charm” favors him as he aims to secure the coveted AFCON trophy.
**Victor Osimhen (Nigeria)** The current African Player of the Year requires no introduction. Last season, his remarkable tally of 26 league goals played a pivotal role in ending Napoli’s 33-year Scudetto drought, significantly elevating his status in the football world. Victor Osimhen initially gained recognition as a member of the Nigeria U-17 team that clinched the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2015, securing the Golden Boot in that tournament. Since then, his career has been marked by a consistent upward trajectory, overcoming life’s challenges along the way. Following his record-breaking transfer to Napoli for €80 million, Osimhen faced initial challenges adjusting to the new environment. However, in his second season with the club, he earned the title of Serie A Best Young Player (2021/22). By his third season, well, you know the rest. In the national team, he has displayed his impressive goal-scoring excellence with 20 goals in 27 appearances, standing just 10 goals away from surpassing the legendary Rashidi Yekini’s 37-goal record. Osimhen was also the top scorer in the AFCON qualifiers, netting 10 goals, and making him a strong contender for the golden boot at the upcoming AFCON tournament.
**Victor Boniface (Nigeria)** After spending four years with Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, during which he scored a commendable 23 goals in 66 appearances, Boniface made a transfer to Union SG in 2022. While with the Belgian side, he netted 17 goals in 51 games, notably shining in the Europa League with six goals, and sharing the tournament’s golden boot with Marcus Rashford. This outstanding performance caught the attention of Bayer Leverkusen in the Bundesliga, where his move has proven to be a masterstroke. Under the guidance of Xabi Alonso, Boniface has thrived, showcasing his best qualities, and emerging as one of the team’s most influential players during their unbeaten start to the season. With 16 goals in 23 games and eight assists to his name, Boniface is not only an excellent scorer but also willing to play a supporting role alongside another striker, a quality the Super Eagle team will aim to capitalize on.
**Serhou Guirassy (Guinea)** After a decade of moving between French and German clubs, Sehrou Guirassy finally found a home in Stuttgart last season after he joined on loan from Rennes. He scored 11 league goals in 22 games which prompted the German side to make the deal permanent this past summer. Guirassy immediately repaid the faith in him by scoring 10 goals in the opening 5 games and now has 20 goals in 16 games across all competitions. As a result, Stuttgart currently sits in 3rd place in the Bundesliga and is in contention for a Champions League spot, a feat they haven’t achieved since 2008/09. While Guinea faces a challenging Group C at the AFCON which features Cameroon and Senegal, they aim to secure a place in the Round of 16 by finishing 3rd in the group.
**Sadio Mané (Senegal)** Sadio Mané is one of the best players on the continent. After an unsuccessful stint at Bayern Munich, he opted for a move to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr, where he teamed up with Cristiano Ronaldo, and this decision has proven to be highly rewarding. Currently, Mané boasts an impressive record of 12 goals and 6 assists for Al-Nassr, positioning the team favourably to contend for both the league title and the AFC Champions League. Following his pivotal role in leading Senegal to victory in the last edition of the AFCON, Mané and his teammates enter the upcoming tournament with the weight of past expectations lifted, making them strong contenders for a deep run in the competition.
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