AFCON Goal Fests: Revisiting the Tournament’s Highest-Scoring Classics

The Africa Cup of Nations has long been a stage for drama, flair, and unforgettable attacking football. Across its history, the tournament which started in 1957 has produced matches where defenses were torn apart and goalkeepers were left helpless, resulting in some of the highest-scoring games the continent has ever seen. From early spectacles in the 1960s to modern-day thrillers, these matches have showcased the raw excitement, skill, and unpredictability that make AFCON one of football’s most compelling competitions.

Beyond the sheer number of goals, these encounters tell stories of individual brilliance, team dominance, and moments that have entered African football folklore. Legends like Samuel Eto’o, Laurent Pokou, and Rabah Madjer have left their mark in these goal-laden clashes, while entire teams have produced attacking masterclasses that fans still celebrate decades later. This feature dives into the most prolific matches in AFCON history, reliving the moments that made spectators hold their breath and redefining what it means to score with style on the continental stage.

These encounters highlights some of the pulsating clashes in the tournaments history.

The 1963 Africa Cup of Nations clash between Egypt and Nigeria remains a match for the ages, producing a jaw-dropping nine-goal thriller. Egypt’s relentless attacking football dismantled Nigeria’s defense, with the Pharaohs’ fluid movement and clinical finishing leaving fans in awe. The match showcased the attacking flair and end-to-end drama that has come to define African football.

Beyond the scoreline, this game symbolized the excitement of AFCON’s early years, offering a blueprint for goal-packed encounters. More than six decades later, Egypt’s 6–3 triumph over Nigeria continues to be celebrated as one of the most memorable goal fests in the continent’s football history and remains the highest scoring game in the tournament history. During that tournament, Ethiopia also beat Tunisia by 4-2.

Ivory Coast produced a dominating display at the 1970 AFCON, overwhelming Ethiopia 6–1 in a showcase of attacking brilliance. Laurent Pokou stole the show with an incredible five-goal haul, leaving defenders in his wake with power, pace, and precision. The Elephants’ superiority was evident in every aspect of play, with their relentless attack leaving the opposition struggling to respond.

Pokou’s individual brilliance secured an iconic win and cemented his legacy as one of Africa’s finest forwards. Decades on, the 6–1 thrashing remains a landmark moment in AFCON history, celebrated for its sheer dominance and attacking artistry.

Losseni scored the other goal for Cote D'Ivoire while Mengistu Worku got the lone goal for Ethiopia.

The 1972 AFCON final pitted Congo against Mali in a thrilling tactical battle, contrasting Congo’s direct long-ball style with Mali’s fluid passing approach. Mali initially struck through Moussa Diakité, but Congo responded early in the second segment with two quick goals from Jean-Michel M’bono, before François M’Pelé sealed the victory with a third. A late goal from Moussa Traoré was mere consolation for Mali.

Congo’s victory marked a historic achievement, with the team’s resilience and sharp finishing proving decisive. The 3–2 triumph remains a celebrated chapter in African football, illustrating the importance of tactical adaptability and seizing key moments on the big stage.

That final remains one of the most thrilling in the tournament history.

Cameroon finished in style during the 1972 AFCON, overpowering Zaire 5–2 in a commanding display of attacking football in the third-place playoffs game.

 Disappointed after their semi-final defeat, the  Indomitable Lions repeatedly broke through their opponents’ defense, highlighting their attacking abilities as a force in African football despite not winning the trophy on home soil.

This emphatic win to sign out signaled Cameroon’s emergence as a major continental powerhouse, with the result still remembered as a defining moment in their AFCON journey. The 5–1 victory over Zaire inspired by an early goal from Jean Paul Akono from the spot remains a classic example of power, precision, and attacking flair in tournament history.

Algeria thrilled the home crowd at the 1990 AFCON with a dominant 5–1 win over Nigeria, led by the brilliance of Rabah Madjer. Madjer opened the scoring before doubling his tally early in the second half, with Djamel Menad scoring twice in quick succession to expose Nigeria’s frailties. Amani completed the scoring, capping a ruthless performance that left the Super Eagles chasing shadows.

Nigeria’s lone consolation through Jay-Jay Okocha could not diminish Algeria’s display, which underscored their status as tournament favorites. The match remains a standout performance in AFCON history, celebrated for Algeria’s attacking mastery and Madjer’s inspiring leadership.

Cameroon staged a sensational comeback to defeat Zimbabwe 5–3 in one of the most entertaining matches of AFCON 2004. Zimbabwe took an early lead through Peter Ndlovu, but the Indomitable Lions responded with a flurry of goals from Patrick Mboma and Modeste M’Bami, turning the contest on its head before half-time.

Despite late goals from Zimbabwe, Cameroon held on to claim the victory, showcasing their attacking depth and resilience. The match remains a memorable eight-goal spectacle, illustrating the drama and unpredictability that makes AFCON a tournament full of excitement.

Egypt opened their 2008 AFCON campaign with a commanding 4–2 win over Cameroon, a match that underlined their dominance in African football during the 2006–2010 era. Mohamed Zidan starred with a brace, while Hosni Abd Rabo added a fourth to seal the victory. Cameroon fought back through Samuel Eto’o, but Egypt’s attacking power proved decisive.

This emphatic group-stage win set the tone for Egypt’s successful tournament, culminating in a second consecutive AFCON title. The match remains an emblem of the Pharaohs’ tactical discipline, squad depth, and finishing prowess during one of the most dominant periods in continental football history.

Angola and Mali produced a thrilling 4–4 draw in a 2010 AFCON group-stage encounter, with Amado Flavio and Seydou Keita each scoring braces to steal the show. Angola dominated early, with Flavio and teammates Sebastiao Felisberto and Manucho giving the hosts a seemingly commanding lead.

Mali’s late surge, led by Keita and Frédéric Kanouté, snatched a dramatic point, highlighting the unpredictability and excitement of African football. The match remains one of the tournament’s most memorable high-scoring contests, celebrated for attacking flair and late-game drama.

Comoros pulled off a stunning 3–2 victory over Ghana in a dramatic AFCON clash at Roumdé Adjia Stadium in Garoua. The match got off to a flying start for the visitors, with Ben Nabouhane giving Comoros an early lead in the 4th minute. Ghana fought back, but Mogni’s strike in the 62nd minute restored Comoros’ advantage, setting up a tense second half.

Ghana’s Boakye pulled one back in the 64th minute, and Djiku briefly threatened to equalize in the 77th minute, but Comoros held on thanks to Mogni’s second goal in the 85th minute. The win, overseen by referee Boubou Traore of Mali, was a historic result for Comoros, highlighting their resilience and ability to compete against Africa’s traditional powerhouses.

Equatorial Guinea delivered a thrilling 4–2 victory over Guinea-Bissau in an entertaining AFCON clash. Nsue starred with a brilliant hat-trick, scoring in the 21st, 51st, and 61st minutes, while Miranda added a first-half strike in the 46th minute. Guinea-Bissau briefly got on the scoresheet through an own goal by Esteban in the 37th minute, keeping the game competitive in the opening stages.

Zé Turbo pulled one back for Guinea-Bissau deep in stoppage time, but it was too little, too late. Nsue’s heroics not only powered Equatorial Guinea to victory but also earned him the tournament’s Golden Boot, capping a memorable campaign defined by his lethal finishing and attacking brilliance. That performance sparked huge celebrations back in Equatorial Guinea.

Angola produced an impressive comeback to defeat Mauritania 3–2 in a thrilling AFCON clash at Stade de la Paix in Bouaké. Mauritania looked on course for victory after taking the lead through Amar in the 43rd minute and Koita in the 58th, but Angola quickly turned the game around in the second half. Dala scored twice (30’, 50’) to level the match, before Gilberto’s strike in the 53rd minute gave the visitors the lead.

Despite Mauritania’s efforts to fight back, Angola held firm to secure a vital win. The contest, witnessed by 36,318 fans and officiated by Egypt’s Mohamed Maarouf, showcased Angola’s attacking prowess and resilience. The game was one of the standout in the tournament history.

In all, Africa has produced unforgettable footballing moments, and some of the continent’s greatest scorers have been at the heart of them. Samuel Eto’o, Laurent Pokou, and Rashidi Yekini are among the all-time top scorers, their goals often coming in high-octane, goal-filled matches that define AFCON history. From Pokou’s five-goal masterclass in Ivory Coast’s 6–1 win over Ethiopia in 1970, to Eto’o’s decisive strikes in Cameroon’s thrilling victories across multiple tournaments, these players turned high-stakes games into spectacles of attacking brilliance.

Their records are inseparable from the tournament’s most electrifying encounters. Patrick Mboma's goals helped guide Cameroon through pulsating clashes like the 5–3 win over Zimbabwe in 2004, Pokou’s scoring feats remain immortalized in one-sided triumphs, and Yekini’s lethal finishing provided Nigeria with unforgettable moments in high-scoring contests. These legends’ exploits, woven through AFCON’s goal-laden history, continue to inspire and set the benchmark for attacking excellence on the continent.

Over the years, several teams have consistently found the back of the net, with Egypt leading the pack with a total of 175 goals in the tournament's history. Cote d'Ivoire follows with 151 goals, while the likes of Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana are amongst the all-time lead scorers