CAF: "El Kaabi's Efficiency and Diaz's Creativity Provide Significant Balance to Morocco's Attack"
As the Morocco 2025 Africa Cup of Nations enters its knockout stages, the race for the Golden Boot award is becoming clearer, with every goal now carrying significant weight in the top scorer standings as the Round of 16 commences.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Brahim Diaz leads the scoring charts with four goals in four matches. The Moroccan forward has continued his impressive form on home soil, with his goal against Tanzania being crucial for qualification to the quarter-finals. This goal also solidified his position at the top of the scoring list and reaffirmed his value to Morocco's title aspirations.
Lassine Sinayoko of Mali sits in second place with three goals from four appearances. His goals during the group stage were instrumental in securing Mali's qualification and came at decisive moments, showcasing his effectiveness under pressure.
CAF stated that Morocco is strongly represented in the Golden Boot race, with Ayoub El Kaabi also having three goals in four matches. El Kaabi's physical presence and efficiency inside the penalty area have provided significant balance to the Moroccan attack, complementing Diaz's creativity.
The same source also noted that Riyad Mahrez continues to demonstrate his threat for Algeria, having scored three goals in just two matches. Despite his limited appearances, the "Greens" captain has once again shown his ability to decide games with a single touch.
Outside the top four positions, several players are tied with two goals each, highlighting the fierce competition for the top scorer title.
These players include Cameroon's Christian Kouame, Senegal's Pape Gueye, Egypt captain Mohamed Salah, Nigeria's Ademola Lookman, and South African duo Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis.
CAF emphasized that several of these players are still competing in the knockout rounds, which opens the door for significant changes in the scoring rankings in the coming days.
As the tournament enters its decisive phase, the history of the Africa Cup of Nations indicates that the Golden Boot winner often comes from a team that reaches the advanced stages.
