Michael Olunga Enters Africa's Elite Club Alongside Mohamed Salah, Aubameyang After World Cup Qualifiers

The Harambee Stars striker's scoring run has placed him among Africa's elite alongside Mohamed Salah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after the World Cup qualifiers.

The African qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup have concluded, with nine group winners booking their places for the tournament in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

While the continent’s top teams prepare for the global stage, the battle for the golden boot proved just as thrilling. Algeria’s Mohamed Amoura claimed the top scorer’s accolade, netting 10 goals with clinical precision that kept him ahead throughout the campaign.

Close behind was Egypt’s talisman Mohamed Salah, who scored nine times, once again underlining his pivotal role in guiding the Pharaohs to qualification.

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The qualifiers featured 256 matches and produced 640 goals, averaging 2.5 per game. Ivory Coast emerged as the most prolific attacking side with 25 goals, while Seychelles struggled defensively, conceding 53 times.

Among the nine qualifiers, Cape Verde will make history as the only debutant, earning their first-ever World Cup appearance, while the other eight teams bring significant experience, each having competed in at least three previous tournaments.

Who Were the Top Scorers in the African World Cup Qualifiers?

Mohamed Amoura (Algeria) – 10 goals

Mohamed Amoura of Algeria finished the African qualification campaign for the 2026 FIFA World Cup as the continent's top goalscorer, netting 10 goals.

His 10 goals were spread across five crucial matches in Group G. Amoura was a force, often scoring in bunches to ensure victory.

His most prolific outing was a memorable hat-trick in the dominant 5-1 home win against Mozambique. Just four days earlier, on March 21, 2025, he had found the back of the net twice, securing a vital 3-1 away victory over Botswana.

Amoura proved his mettle in high-stakes matches, scoring a brace in the 3-0 win over Somalia on October 9, 2025. He then capped off his Golden Boot performance by scoring another two goals in the final 2-1 victory against Uganda on October 14.

He also added another single goal in the 3-1 home victory against Botswana on September 4, 2025. These contributions firmly established the 25-year-old as the new talisman of the Algerian national team.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt) – nine goals

Mohamed Salah was the instrumental figure in leading Egypt to qualification for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, securing his country's spot in the global tournament.

The Liverpool star finished the African qualification phase with 9 goals, placing him second on the continent's scoring chart.

Mohamed Salah's nine goals in the 2026 qualifiers were key to the Pharaohs topping their group and booking their trip to North America. During the campaign, Salah shattered the long-standing record to become the all-time top scorer in African World Cup qualifying history, reaching a total of 20 career goals.

This milestone saw him surpass African legends like Didier Drogba, Samuel Eto'o, Moumouni Dagano, and Islam Slimani, who all held the previous record of 18 goals.

He started the campaign with a remarkable performance, scoring four goals in the opening 6-0 rout of Djibouti on November 16, 2023. This feat made him only the seventh player to score four goals in a single African World Cup qualifier match.

The talisman scored a vital single goal in the hard-fought 1-1 draw away to Guinea-Bissau on June 10, 2024. Salah found the back of the net once more in the 2-0 home victory over Ethiopia on September 5, 2025.

Earlier in the campaign, Mohamed Salah scored a single goal in the 2-1 away win against Ethiopia on March 21, 2025, which helped his side secure maximum points on the road. In the decisive fixture that secured Egypt's place at the World Cup, Salah delivered a memorable brace in the 3-0 victory against Djibouti on October 8, 2025.

Dénis Bouanga (Gabon), Kamouri Doumbia (Mali) – 8 goals

Gabon’s Dénis Bouanga and Mali’s Kamory Doumbia finished tied as the third-highest goalscorers in the CAF campaign, each netting eight goals for their respective nations.

Both players delivered stunning individual performances, even as their teams faced distinct fortunes in the groups.

Dénis Bouanga, the Los Angeles FC star, was the driving force behind Gabon's strong push for qualification from a challenging Group F. His eight goals were marked by explosive multi-goal games, demonstrating his immense value to the Panthers.

Bouanga scored a single goal in Gabon's crucial 2-1 away victory against Burundi on November 19, 2023. He scored one goal as Gabon secured a 2-1 victory over Kenya in 2023.

He also scored a single goal in Gabon's hard-fought 3-2 win over Gambia. He also scored a brace in the 3-0 demolition of Seychelles before the hat-trick in the return leg.

For Mali, the campaign saw the emergence of a new attacking talisman in Kamory Doumbia. The young attacking midfielder's eight goals showcased his quality and helped keep the Eagles in contention for a direct qualification spot in a tight Group I.

Doumbia's eight goals, along with his single assist in the campaign, confirmed his status as one of Africa's most exciting young talents and a vital component of the Malian attack, driving them to a strong finish in their group.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Jordan Ayew (Ghana), Musa Barrow (Gambia) – 7 goals

These three prolific forwards, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Jordan Ayew, and Musa Barrow, finished just one goal behind the third-place tie, each scoring seven goals in the African Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, a veteran striker, was Gabon's most lethal weapon, delivering a stunning individual performance that kept his nation in contention.

He scored a brace in the 2-1 away victory against Kenya on March 23, 2025. He also scored a history-making four-goal haul (a quadruple) in the thrilling 4-3 comeback victory over Gambia on October 10, 2025.

This sensational performance made him only the seventh player to score four goals in an African World Cup Qualifier. He also scored a single goal in the 3-2 home victory against Gambia.

Ghanaian forward Jordan Ayew was arguably the most impactful player in the qualifiers, leading the Black Stars not just with goals but also with assists.

He scored a hat-trick in the 4-3 home victory over the Central African Republic, and a single goal in the 1-2 away victory against Mali. He also scored a single goal in the matches against Chad twice and the Central African Republic.

Musa Barrow was the focal point of Gambia's attack, consistently finding the back of the net to give the Scorpions a fighting chance in a tough group.

He scored a single goal in the 3-2 loss to Burundi. He also scored a single goal in the 3-1 away victory against Kenya. Musa Barrow also scored a brace in the commanding 0-7 away victory against Seychelles.

Michael Olunga (Kenya), Victor Osimhen (Nigeria) – 6 goals

Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga and Victor Osimhen finished the African Qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup tied on six goals, placing them in the next tier of the continent's most clinical strikers.

Michael Olunga, the captain and undisputed star striker of the Harambee Stars, was responsible for the majority of Kenya's scoring in the campaign.

He scored a brace in the dominant 5-0 home victory over Seychelles in their first leg encounter and maintained the haul in the return leg. He scored the lone goal in the 2-1 home defeat to Gabon.

Michael Olunga also scored in the 3-3 draw against The Gambia in their away match. Michael Olunga's goals were crucial in nearly every match where Kenya recorded a positive result.

Victor Osimhen was the primary goal threat for Nigeria during their qualifying matches. Osimhen's goals were essential for the Super Eagles, especially his decisive hat-trick in the final match, which, while not enough to secure automatic qualification, was a powerful statement of his attacking prowess.