Nigeria are on the brink of history at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, with the Super Eagles targeting a continental goalscoring record in their final two matches of the tournament in Morocco.
The West African giants face hosts Morocco in a blockbuster semi-final clash in Rabat on Wednesday, with either a place in the final or a third-place play-off still to come. Victory—or even a high-scoring defeat—could see Nigeria eclipse one of AFCON’s most enduring records.
Their 2–0 quarter-final victory over Algeria in Marrakech took Nigeria’s tournament tally to 14 goals, leaving them just two short of the all-time record of 16, set by Ivory Coast at the 2008 finals.
Free-Scoring Super Eagles Power Historic Run
Nigeria’s attacking numbers have been built steadily throughout the competition. They netted eight goals in topping Group C, before adding four more in a dominant round-of-16 win over Mozambique in Fes. The latest two against Algeria have now put them firmly within touching distance of history.
Leading the charge has been Victor Osimhen, who has already scored four goals, closely followed by Ademola Lookman with three. Behind them, Alex Iwobi’s creativity and control have been among the standout features of the tournament.
Further contributions have come from across the squad, with Akor Adams and Raphael Onyedika scoring two goals each, while Semi Ajayi, Wilfred Ndidi and Paul Onuachu have all found the net once—highlighting Nigeria’s depth and variety in attack.
Chelle’s Philosophy Begins to Bear Fruit
Head coach Eric Chelle has been praised for successfully imprinting his ideas on the team during the tournament, even though his tenure began with the disappointment of missing out on 2026 World Cup qualification.
“I have worked a lot since taking over my role with the Nigerian national team; we put in a lot of effort during preparations,” Chelle said after the Algeria win.
“My vision has been implemented in the Nigerian team, and we must continue working in this manner.”
He also acknowledged the scale of the challenge ahead against the hosts.
“Morocco is a strong team, and there will be pressure in front of the host nation. The best team will win. I am proud that we will face Morocco, and I hope it will be a good match.”
A Record Steeped in AFCON History
Ivory Coast’s benchmark of 16 goals, set 18 years ago in 2008, came across six matches despite the Elephants finishing fourth. That team featured prolific scorers such as Didier Drogba, Salomon Kalou, Boubacar Sanogo and Kader Keïta, who all netted three times.
Before that, Zambia’s 15 goals at the 1996 finals in South Africa was the record—a tally later matched by Egypt in 2008 and 2010, tournaments the Pharaohs went on to win in Ghana and Angola respectively.
At the current finals, Senegal have scored 11 goals, while Egypt and Morocco sit on nine goals each from five matches, underlining just how far Nigeria have separated themselves offensively.
Most Goals in a Single Africa Cup of Nations
- 16 – Ivory Coast (2008)
- 15 – Zambia (1996), Egypt (2008, 2010)
- 14 – Zaire (1974), Morocco (2004), Cameroon (2008, 2021), Nigeria (2025)
With two matches remaining and momentum firmly on their side, Nigeria now stand just 180 minutes away from rewriting AFCON history.
