Bafana Bafana stars Lyle Foster and Oswin Appollis remains firmly in the hunt for the Golden Boot at Afcon 2025 after the completion of the group stages. The duo have both scored two goals and are keeping pace with some of the continent’s biggest attacking stars.
Foster, South Africa’s No 9, and fellow forward Appollis are one behind the tournament’s leading scorers, Moroccan duo Brahim Diaz of Real Madrid and Ayoub El Kaabi (Olympiacos), as well as Algeria captain and superstar Riyad Mahrez.
| Goals | Player Name | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Brahim Diaz | Morocco 🇲🇦 |
| 3 | Ayoub El Kaabi | Morocco 🇲🇦 |
| 3 | Riyad Mahrez | Algeria 🇩🇿 |
| 2 | Lyle Foster | South Africa 🇿🇦 |
| 2 | Oswin Appollis | South Africa 🇿🇦 |
| 2 | Ademola Lookman | Nigeria 🇳🇬 |
| 2 | Raphael Onyedika | Nigeria 🇳🇬 |
| 2 | Nicolas Jackson | Senegal 🇸🇳 |
| 2 | Cherif Ndiaye | Senegal 🇸🇳 |
| 2 | Gael Kakuta | DR Congo 🇨🇩 |
| 2 | Amad Diallo | Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 |
| 2 | Mohamed Salah | Egypt 🇪🇬 |
| 2 | Elias Achouri | Tunisia 🇹🇳 |
| 2 | Lassine Sinayoko | Mali 🇲🇱 |
Foster’s contribution has been central to Bafana’s progress, with the Burnley forward once again underlining his importance to Hugo Broos’ side through his movement, physical presence and finishing. While South Africa have shared the goals around, Foster’s ability to convert key chances has ensured he remains among an elite group of marksmen still alive in the race.
Appollis has also been key as Bafana have progressed to the knockout stages.
The pair are joined on two goals by Senegal pair Ismaila Sarr Jackson and Cheikh Ndiaye, Nigeria’s Ademola Lookman and Raphael Onyedika, Ivory Coast’s Amad Diallo, and Egypt talisman Mohamed Salah.
Algeria’s Mohamed Amine Maza, Mozambique winger Geny Catamo and Tunisia’s Elias Achouri all also found the net twice during the group phase.
For the South African pair, the challenge now is to maintain his momentum against increasingly tough opposition. South Africa will face five-time champions Cameroon in the last 16 on Sunday and the goalscoring form of Foster and Appollis will be crucial.
Since admission to Afcon in 1996, only two South Africans have ever won the Golden Boot – Benni McCarthy in 1998 (joint winner with seven goals) and Shaun Bartlett in 2000 (five goals).
Photo: Mahugnon Leopold Soglo/Gallo Images
