Highest goal scorers at AFCON 2023 so far

As the knockout stage of AFCON 2023 slowly takes shape, the Golden Boot or the highest goal-scorer race is one taking centerstage following the unexpected turn of things at the tournament.

Initial debates and speculations as to players that will challenge for the highest goal scorer at AFCON 2023 have been nullified and thrown right out of the window as the tournament progresses as key players representing their countries have defied all odds and have risen to the big occasion of putting their country on the map and giving their team an equal fight ground to challenge for the highly coveted title on the continent.

Who is the highest goal scorer at AFCON 2023?

Equatorial Guinea captain Emilio Nsue Lopez is the highest goal scorer at AFCON 2023 with a total of five goals in three games under his belt in the competition's group stage.

This is an unprecedented outcome as the 34-year-old who currently plays his football at the club level at the third-tier Spanish club CF Intercity in Alicante, plays as a defender for his club side.

Nsue is being deployed as a forward at the country level for Equatorial Guinea and has proven to be clinical and effective in that role as he scored his country's first hattrick at AFCON in 16 years in the 4-2 thumping and mauling of Guinea-Bissau before following up with a brace in the 2-0 victory over the hosts, Ivory Coast.

It remains to be seen if his current run of form will continue in the round of 16 of AFCON 2023, but many are excited about the dynamics of the competition so far.

Full list of the highest goal scorers