AFCON Golden Boot tips: Finding value beyond Salah and Mane

As one might expect, the odds when looking into potential Golden Boot winners at this summer’s Africa Cup of Nations lean towards two teammates and Champions of Europe in Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane.

The pair shared the top scorer accolade in the Premier League for their efforts with Liverpool along with fellow African Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who would no doubt have also been among the favourites had Gabon not failed to qualify.

It’s Salah that is understandably the pick of most to scoop the gong on home soil, but at a price of 5.50 with bet365 we feel there is better value out there.

The following are five players that shouldn’t be overlooked this summer in their bid to end the tournament as the leading marksmen.  

Odion Ighalo (Nigeria) - 10/1

While he may be playing in China nowadays there is no doubting that Ighalo remains a natural goalscorer. The former Watford star comes alive in the box and did so seven times in qualifying to ensure that he was the top scorer en route to the finals.

He’ll lead the line this summer for a Super Eagles side that were handed perhaps the most favourable draw among the favourites to go the distance. Guinea pose the biggest threat and are a hard team to break down but the likes of Madagascar and tournament debutants Burundi shouldn’t trouble Gernot Rohr’s side.

Baghdad Bounedjah (Algeria) - 25/1

I realise at this point most are thinking, ‘who?’ but Bounedjah’s goalscoring record is quite sensational. The 27-year-old may play his football in Qatar but he has averaged more than a goal per game for Al-Sadd three seasons running, culminating in a ludicrous return of 39 from 22 appearances last season.

Throw in the fact that he has scored ten of his 11 international goals since the start of last year - and only failed to find the net in one of his last eight appearances - and the striker must be taken seriously. With the likes of Riyad Mahrez and Yacine Brahimi in support Bounedjah certainly shouldn’t be short of service from wide.

Jonathan Kodjia (Ivory Coast) - 33/1

He may have only been a bit part player in the Championship last season for Aston Villa last season but Kodjia was more integral for his country than his club. The 29-year-old was the lead striker for the Ivory Coast throughout qualifying and while his place may come under threat should he struggle to find form early on, goals in back-to-back friendlies should ensure the Villa man remains first choice.

Like Bounedjah, he should have plenty of ammunition from the likes of Nicolas Pepe and Wilfried Zaha on the wings - both of whom are shorter odds for the Golden Boot - and when fit and on form Kodjia is a real handful. While Group D looks among the most competitive, odds of 33/1 seem high for the lead striker in a strong attacking team.

Youssef En-Nesyri (Morocco) - 50/1

One of the Ivory Coast’s opponents in the group stages, Morocco are well fancied to go deep into the tournament this summer but will need someone to take up the goalscoring mantle. Hakim Ziyech is undoubtedly the jewel in Herve Renard’s side and as such shortest odds for the Atlas Lions in the top scorer market but his creativity could get the best out of a lead striker.

En-Nesyri will be vying for that role with the more experienced Khalid Boutaib and in the space of the last year has more international starts and goals (five) than the latter. The 22-year-old is certainly prone to blowing hot and cold - six of his nine league goals for Leganes last season came in the space of three matches - but if he can heat up this summer the youngster looks a decent long shot.

Karl Toko Ekambi (Cameroon) - 66/1

Cameroon were shock winners of the tournament two years ago and will be looking to retain their title in Egypt this summer following a decent group draw. Ghana aren’t the force they once were in African football, while Benin and Guinea-Bissau will be the underdogs in Group F.

Without Vincent Aboubakar to lead the line the holders will need someone to step up and do just that this summer, and Ekambi approaches the tournament in strong form. The Villarreal forward’s international record is modest to say the least but he scored in warm up friendly with Mali earlier this month and ended his debut LaLiga campaign with six goals in his last nine appearances.