* Two ahead of five with 3 goals apiece, who play from this evening in two quarterfinals — Algeria vs Nigeria (18h00); Egypt vs Côte d’Ivoire (21:00)
Maravi Express
Brahim Díaz scored the first goal in the 2-0 win over Cameroon last night as the hosts qualified for the semifinals of the Africa Cup of Nations (AfCON) 2025 and for the Real Madrid forward to extend his tally of goals in the race for the Golden Boot.
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The goal was historic for Díaz, who became just the second player in AfCON history — after Ghana’s Osei Kofi — to score in five consecutive matches at the tournament.
He is two goals ahead of five contenders who are playing this evening in two quarterfinals between Algeria and Nigeria (18h00) and Egypt vs Côte d’Ivoire (21:00) — Ademola Lookman & Victor Osimhen (Nigeria); Amad Diallo (Côte d’Ivoire); Mohamed Salah (Egypt); Riyad Mahrez (Algeria) — and along with compatriot Ayoub El Kaabi.
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Also on three goals is Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko, whose nation has since exited from the tournament after losing 0-1 to Senegal last night. Senegal has three with 2 goals apiece, Chérif Ndiaye, Nicolas Jackson and Pape Gueye.
Three other quarterfinalists also have 2 goals — Bazoumana Touré (Côte d’Ivoire), Ibrahim Maza (Algeria) and Raphael Onyedika (Nigeria) — while those who have exited include Christian Kofane (Cameroon); Elias Achouri (Tunisia); Gaël Kakuta (DR Congo); Ibrahim Maza (Algeria); alongside two from Council for Southern Africa Football Associations (COSAFA), Geny Catamo (Mozambique), Iyle Foster and Oswin Appollis (both from South Africa).
In total, 61 players have scored exactly one goal at the tournament, highlighting both the competitive balance of AfCON 2025 and the variety of attacking threats on display.
Díaz‘s goal against Cameroon last night
Brahim Díaz’s performance underlines his growing influence at the tournament and his goal came in front of a packed Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, where he got the decisive touch to Ayoub El Kaabi’s 26th-minute header.
Ismael Saibari later sealed the win, but once again it was Díaz who stole the spotlight, maintaining a perfect scoring run that no other player at the finals has matched so far, with Díaz emerging as the tournament’s most reliable attacking threat.—Reporting by CAFonline; edited by Duncan Mlanjira, Maravi Express
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