The African Cup of Nations, popularly called AFCON, is a biennial football tournament, organized by the Confederation Of African Football, CAF, the umbrella body for the sport in Africa. Held every two years, except (most recently), the editions of 2012 (won by Zambia) and 2013 (won by Nigeria), it is contested by the senior national football teams of CAF's member Associations.

In this article, I bring to you, a list of the top 10 goal scorers of the tournament, since its inception. Most of these players have gone to make impact in top leagues in Europe, Asia and South America. Examples are Samuel Eto'o, Didier Drogba, Rashidi Yekini and many other; and have won various trophies across other Confederations, including the coveted UEFA Champions League, English Premier League, Spanish La Liga, Italian Serie A, French Ligue 1, to mention just a few.

The highest goal scorer in AFCON is Cameroonian Samuel Eto'o, followed by Ivorian Laurent Pokou, as shown below:

1. Samuel Eto'o.

Country: Cameroon.

Goals: 18.

National team appearances: 118.

World Cup appearances: 4.

Clubs: Leganés, Real Madrid, Espanyol, Mallorca, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Anzhi, Chelsea, Everton, Sampdoria.

Years Active: 1997-2014.

2. Laurent Pokou.

Country: Côte d'Ivoire

Goals: 14.

National team appearances: 70.

Clubs: ASEC Abidjan, Stade Rennais, AS Nancy, RS Anyama

Years Active: 1966-1983.

3. Rashidi Yekini.

Country: Nigeria

Goals: 13.

National team appearances: 58.

World Cup Appearances: 2.

Clubs: UNTL Kaduna, Shooting Stars, Abiola Babes, Africa Sports, Vitória Setúbal, Olympiacos, Sporting Gijon, Zürich, Bizerte, Al-shabab FC, Africa Sports, Julius Berger, Gateway.

Years Active: 1981- 2005.

4. Hassan El-Shazly.

Country: Egypt.

Goals: 12.

National team appearances: 62.

Club: Tersana.

Years Active: 1961-1974.

5. Didier Drogba.

Country: Ivory Coast.

Goals: 11.

National team appearances: 105.

World Cup Appearances: 3.

Clubs: Le Mans, Guingamp, Marseille, Chelsea, Shanghai Shenhua, Galatasary.

Years Active: 1989-2018.

6. Patrick Mboma.

Country: Cameroon.

Goals: 11.

National team appearances: 57.

World Cup Appearances: 2.

Clubs: Paris Saint-Germain, Châteauroux, Metz, Gamba Osaka, Cagliari, Parma, Sunderland, Al-Ittihad, Tokyo Verdy 1969, Vissel Kobe.

Years Active: 1990-2005.

7. Hossam Hassan.

Country: Egypt

Goals: 11.

National team appearances: 176.

World Cup Appearance: 1.

Clubs: Al-Ahly, PAOK, Neuchâtel Xamax, Al Ain, Zamalek, Al-Masry, Tersana, Al-Ittihad Alexandria.

Years Active: 1983-2007.

8. Mengistu Worku

Country: Ethiopia.

Goals: 10.

Clubs: Saint-George SA

Years Active: 1957-1972

9. Kalusha Bwalya.

Country: Zambia.

Goals: 10.

National team appearances: 87.

Clubs: Mufulira Blackpool, Mufulira, Cercle Brugge, América, PSV Eindhoven, Necaxa, Al Wahda, León, Irapuato, Veracruz, Correcaminos.

Years Active: 1979-2004.

10. Ndaye Mulamba.

Country: DR Congo.

Goals: 10.

National team appearances: 20.

World Cup Appearance: 1.

Clubs: Renaissance of the Kasai, AS Bantu, AS Vita Club

Years Active: 1963-1981.

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