Nigeria Top Scoring Charts Ahead Of Round of 16 Clash With Mozambique

Nigeria Top Scoring Charts Ahead Of Round of 16 Clash With Mozambique 

By Niyi Busari 

Nigeria have emerged as the most dangerous attacking side at the TotalEnergies Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) Morocco 2025, with group-stage statistics underlining the Super Eagles’ growing reputation as a formidable force ahead of the Round of 16.

According to the Confederation of African Football’s official group-stage report, Eric Chelle’s side finished the opening phase as the tournament’s leading scorers, registering eight goals more than any other team in the competition.

Those goals were the product of remarkable efficiency. Nigeria required just 21 shots to reach that tally, with 10 efforts on target, highlighting a clinical edge that has consistently turned dominance into decisive outcomes.

Beyond their scoring prowess, the Super Eagles also set the benchmark for control and authority. They recorded the highest average possession rate of the group stage at 66 percent, reflecting sustained territorial dominance and a clear ability to dictate the tempo of matches.

The combination of high possession and ruthless finishing marks a significant evolution for a team that has often been criticised in past tournaments for failing to translate talent into results. Under Chelle’s stewardship, Nigeria appear to have found the balance between flair and efficiency that has eluded them in recent years.

Several individuals have played key roles in the team’s attacking output. Ademola Lookman, Victor Osimhen and Samuel Chukwueze have all featured prominently across multiple performance indicators, including goals, assists, key passes and successful dribbles, underscoring the depth of quality within the squad.

The contrast with less effective sides has been stark. Botswana, for example, posted the weakest defensive record of the group stage, conceding seven goals while scoring only once and averaging 38 percent possession  figures that underline the gulf between the tournament’s most dominant teams and its strugglers.

However, impressive statistics offer no guarantees in knockout football. Nigeria have not won the AFCON title since 2013, despite regularly entering tournaments with squads rich in attacking talent. Previous campaigns have seen strong group-stage performances undone when the stakes rose.

As the Round of 16 approaches, the Super Eagles are widely viewed as the team opponents would prefer to avoid. The data supports that perception, confirming that when Nigeria operate at full capacity, they possess the attacking power to overwhelm any defence on the continent.

Whether that dominance can be sustained on the path to continental glory remains the defining question of their AFCON 2025 campaign.