Top African Scorers this Season
With the European footballing calendar heading into the final stretch of the season, we take a look at the top 20 African goalscorers in the top 5 leagues (English Premier League, Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1, La Liga) this season.
Players who missed the cut
Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal - Ivory Coast) -> 5 Goals
With only 10 of his 20 Premier League appearances being starts, it has been incredibly hard for the 25-year-old Ivorian to even try to begin to prove his $96m transfer fee.
Victor Osimhen (Napoli - Nigeria) -> 3 Goals
Injuries have severely hampered the debut season of Napoli’s record signing, with the Nigerian only making a total of 12 appearances in the league so far.
Jordan Ayew (Crystal Palace - Ghana) -> 1 Goal
Despite making a personal-best three assists in the league this season, the 29-year-old Ghanaian striker has only managed a single goal this season - a figure which pales in comparison to the nine he scored last season.
Hakim Ziyech (Chelsea - Morocco) -> 1 Goal
Another new signing who hasn’t gotten off to the best of starts, Hakim Ziyech has struggled to perform consistently for the Blues, especially in the league - where he has only managed one goal and three assists.
The List:
25. Ibrahima Niane (Metz - Senegal) -> 6 Goals
A product of the Senegalese Generation Foot academy, Ibrahima Niane seemed primed to explode onto the scene after scoring six goals in three games in the first month of the season. Unfortunately, a ruptured ACL in October put an end to his season and he is yet to return.
24. Kelechi Iheanacho (Leicester City - Nigeria) -> 6 Goals
After a weak start to the season, Kelechi gradually picked up his performances before hitting an excellent streak of form this month, most recently scoring his first ever Premier League hat-trick in a 5-0 win over Sheffield United
23. Mama Samba Baldé (Dijon - Guinea Bissau) -> 6 Goals
25-year-old Guinea-Bissau forward Mame Samba Baldé has been one of the only shining lights for a Dijon side that sits at the end of the French league table. Hopefully the former Sporting Lisbon academy player can get a move at the end of the season to stay in the top 5 leagues.
22. Achraf Hakimi (Inter - Morocco) -> 6 Goals
The mercurial Moroccan talent has almost perfectly fit in to Antonio Conte’s Inter side that sit on top of the Serie A table with a combined 10 goal contributions.
21. Ihlas Bebou (Hoffenheim - Togo) -> 6 Goals
Togolese forward Ihlas Bebou is having a season to remember for Hoffenheim. The 25-year-old has scored a number of wonder-goals while also leading his side with five assists.
20. Musa Barrow (Bologna - Gambia) -> 6 Goals
22-year-old Gambian wonderkid Musa Barrow has had a decent start to life at Bologna since leaving Atalanta for more playing time - scoring six and assisting six in Serie A this season.
19. Yoane Wissa (Lorient - DR Congo) -> 7 Goals
Alongside Terem Moffi, who is also on this list, Congolese midfielder Yoane Wissa has given energy and goals to a Lorient side that hopes to escape relegation.
18. Steve Mounié (Brest - Benin) -> 7 Goals
Anyone else didn’t realize he left Huddersfield? The 6’3 striker has quietly had a superb debut season for Stade Brest - contributing to a total of 11 league goals.
17. Sadio Mané (Liverpol - Senegal) -> 7 Goals
A disappointing season by the former African footballer of the year’s standards as his Liverpool side struggle to keep up their winning form from years past.
16. Habib Diallo (Strasbourg - Senegal) -> 7 Goals
After a blistering start to the season, scoring twice in his first two league games for Stasbourg, Diallo has slowed down - only scoring twice in 2021.
15. Jean-Phillipe Mateta (Mainz/Crystal Palace - DR Congo/France) -> 8 Goals
The only player on this list who is yet to fully commit their international allegiance to an African country, 6’4 striker Jean-Phillipe Mateta earned a $4.2m loan move to the Premier League after scoring seven Bundesliga goals for Mainz.
14. Terem Moffi (Lorient - Nigeria) -> 8 Goals
22-year-old Nigerian striker Terem Moffi has been Africa’s breakout star of 2021. He scored in six out of games to start the year and seems to have proven his worth after moving from Belgian side KV Kortrijk for $10m in October.
13. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace - Ivory Coast) -> 9 Goals
A massive improvement on last season’s tally of four goals, the Ivorian striker is still lacking the support to elevate Crystal Palace from mid-table mediocrity.
12. Riyad Mahrez (Manchester City - Algeria) -> 9 Goals
With 19 starts it seems that Riyad Mahrez has finally solidified a starting role under Pep Guardiola on the right wing, and he is picking up form as the season winds down - most recently scoring a brace against Southampton.
11. Franck Kessié (AC Milan - Ivory Coast) -> 9 Goals
Franck Kessié has been incredible for AC Milan this season. With that said, it must be stated that eight of his nine league goals were penalties. Still fairly impressive.
10. Gaël Kakuta (Lens - DR Congo) -> 9 Goals
29-year-old Congolese left-footer Gaël Kakuta is having somewhat of a renaissance season. The former Chelsea wonderkid is leading the newly-promoted side to European contention with a total of 13 goal contributions in the league.
9. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal - Gabon) -> 9 Goals
Disappointing season by his prolific standards.
8. Tino Kadewere (Lyon - Zimbabwe) -> 10 Goals
One of the more pleasant surprises of the season, Zimbabwe international Tino Kadewere has been a revelation for Lyon this season alongside fellow African Karl Toko Ekambi - who is also on this list.
7. Andy Delort (Montpellier - Algeria) -> 10 Goals
Algerian striker Andy Delort is quietly having another great season for Montpellier - racking up ten goals and seven assists in only 21 games.
6. Silas Wamangituka (Stuttgart - DR Congo) -> 11 Goals
One of the most exciting players on this list, 21-year-old Silas Wamangituka has finally gotten his breakthrough. He has been tearing Bundesliga defenses to shreds and is definitely a player to watch out for.
5. Karl Toko Ekambi (Lyon - Cameroon) -> 12 Goals
Karl Toko Ekambi has adjusted well to life at Lyon since joining from La Liga last season. He has been a crucial part to Rudi Garcia’s side that is challenging for the Ligue 1 title.
4. Simeon Nwankwo (Crotone - Nigeria) -> 12 Goals
Domineering 6’6 Nigerian striker Simy Nwankwo has been the only bright light for a struggling Crotone side that seems destined to return to Serie B after only one seaason in the top flight.
3. Boulaye Dia (Reims - Senegal) -> 12 Goals
Perhaps the best of the African contingent plying their trade in France’s top division, 24-year-old Boulaye Dia has caught the eyes of top clubs across Europe for his inspiring performances with Stade Reims.
2. Youssef En-Nesyri (Sevilla - Morocco) -> 14 Goals
Youssef En-Nesyri is having a historic season. Rivaling the likes of Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez near the top of the La Liga top scorers chart, En-Nesyri has been on red-hot form for Sevilla in recent weeks.
1. Mohamed Salah (Liverpool - Egypt) -> 17 Goals
Somehow still finding a way to score goals despite Liverpool’s poor form, Mohamed Salah leads the list with 17 Premier League goals - the highest mark in the league so far.
