Football has grown so much over the past couple of decades in Africa.
When there were previously only a few Africans in top European leagues, there are now African footballers who are considered among the elite.
These players have chased their dreams, and now make millions travel in Private Jets while playing the sport they love.
With the 2022 World Cup on the horizon, there are a number of stars who will be making an appearance.
The likes of Liverpool’s Sadio Mane and Chelsea Hakim Ziyech will be hoping to take their countries to glory.
However when it comes to goals, who are the African players with the most goals in the final?
Here in this post, I will cover the 26 highest goalscorers, who have put their country on the map.
Table of Contents
1. Asamoah Gyan – 6
Asamoah Gyan is currently the highest African goalscorer at the World Cup finals with 6 goals over 11 appearances.
Gyan was instrumental in his country’s success, especially over the 2006 and 2010 world cup.
His goal in qualifying as a teenager sent them on their way to Ghana to make their debut appearance.
It was at that 2006 World Cup that as a starter aged 21, he scored after just 2 minutes in the second group game against the Czech Republic.
More success was to though, as an incredible 2010 campaign in which Gyan was at the center, saw them on the brink of history.
Gyan scored 3 as they reached the Quarters Finals, only to lose to Uruguay on penalties.
This game will always be remembered for a controversial incident that involved a handball of the line, in the dying seconds of extra time.
If it wasn’t for that moment Gyan would have helped Ghana become the first African team to reach the Semi-Final of the world cup.
2. Roger Milla – 5
Roger Milla isn’t just one of the top 5 African footballers with the most goals at a world cup, but he is also the oldest person to score at the finals.
The legendary Cameroonian who also got everyone talking with his dancing, scored aged 42.
This goal came against Russia in the group stages, where he took his incredible international scoring record to 43 in 77 games.
Milla who is still considered as one of Africa’s best players, played for 12 clubs, including length spells at Bastia and local sides Tonnerre and Léopard Douala.
3. Ahmed Musa – 4
Ahmed Musa burst onto the scene in 2014, where he scored 2 of what would be 4 World Cup final goals.
The poacher who some Leicester fans will remember for his two year spell, managed to bag a double against Argentina.
Unfortuantely for him, this performance went somewhat under the radar, has Messi scored twice to defeat the Super Eagles.
Four years later, Ahmed Musa, was again Nigerias top goalscorer has he converted twice to beat Iceland in the second match.
4. Samuel Eto – 3
Samuel Eto’o is one of the best strikers to have come from Africa. He was a striker who had it all from pace to clinical finishing.
The Cameroonian not only enjoyed a decorated career which includes multiple titles and Champions League titles, but also 4 Afircan Player Of The Year awards.
Eto’o didn’t enjoy much success at international level, despite going to three World Cups.
However he was able to bag three goals in total, with one against Saudi Arabia in 2002, and one against both Denmark and Netherlands in 2010.
5. 24 Players On 2 Goals
The fact that only four African players have scored three or more goals at the World Cup, really shows how impressive the feat is.
With more players from Africa now featuring for top leagues around Europe, it is only a matter of time before more do join this list.
For now though, there are 24 African players who have each managed to net twice for their country.
These consist of:
- Francois Oman-Biyik (Cameroon) – (vs Argentina 1990 & vs Sweden 1994)
- Patrick M’Boma (Cameroon) – (vs Chile 1998 & Republic Of Ireland 2002)
- Abderrazak Khairi (Morocco)
- Salaheddine Bassir (Morocco)
- Abdeljalil Hadda (Morocco)
- Daniel Amokachi (Nigeria)
- Emmanuel Amunike (Nigeria)
- Kalu Uche (Nigeria)
- Wahbi Khazri (Tunisia)
- Sulley Muntari (Ghana)
- Andre Ayew (Ghana)
- Salah Assad (Algeria)
- Abdelmoumene Djabou (Algeria)
- Islam Slimani (Algeria)
- Henri Camara (Senegal)
- Papa Bouba Diop (Senegal)
- Abdulrahman Fawzi (Egypt)
- Mohammed Salah (Egypt)
- Benni McCarthy (South Africa)
- Shaun Bartlett (South Africa)
- Aruna Dindane (Ivory Coast)
- Didier Drogba (Ivory Coast)
- Wilfred Bony (Ivory Coast)
- Gervinho (Ivory Coast)
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