AFCON 2023: Reactions to Ivory Coast’s Embarrassing 4–0 Loss to Minnows Equatorial Guinea
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The AFCON 2023 Golden Boot race is heating up.
Equatorial Guinea crashed out in the Round of 16, meaning the tournament’s scoring leader won’t be able to add to his goal tally in the latter stages of the competition.
That opens the door for other contenders to claim the top prize in the end, including Nigeria's Ademola Lookman, who has been on fire in the knockout rounds.
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AFCON 2023: Reactions to Ivory Coast’s Embarrassing 4–0 Loss to Minnows Equatorial Guinea
FootballEmilio Nsue holds a precarious one-goal lead at the top of the Golden Boot standings heading into the semi-final stage of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
All of his five goals came in the knockout stage, recording a hat-trick against Guinea-Bissau and nabbing a brace against Ivory Coast.
Gelson Dala's dream of winning the AFCON Golden Boot prize ended in the quarter-finals with Angola's loss to Nigeria.
He finished the tournament with four goals, one shy of Nsue's mark.
Mostafa Mohamed's quest to win the AFCON Golden Boot award ended in the Round of 16 with Egypt's gut-wrenching loss to DR Congo in a penalty shootout.
He scored a total of four goals in the tournament, three of which came in the group stage.
Nigeria wouldn't be in the semi-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations without the heroics of Ademola Lookman.
AFCON 2023: Ademola Lookman Reacts As Nigeria Reaches Round of 16
FootballHe scored twice in the 2-0 win over Cameroon in the Round of 16 and netted the match-winner against Angola in the quarter-finals, per The Guardian.
He will look to close in on Nsue's tally in Wednesday's game against South Africa.
Five other players have scored three goals in this year's AFCON, but they all have no chance of winning the Golden Boot award, per the BBC.
The teams of Bertrand Traoré, Baghdad Bounedjah, Mohamed Bayo, Mabululu, and Lassine Sinayoko have all been eliminated from title contention.
Sports Brief recently reported on Osimhen's injury concerns.
He suffered an abdominal injury and didn't travel with the Super Eagles to Bouake ahead of Wednesday's semis clash with South Africa.
Osimhen has found the back of the net just one time in this year's AFCON.