On Tuesday night, at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Ibrahim Mbaye added his name to African football history with a goal that did more than reduce Senegal’s deficit against France, Footynaija reports.
At just 18 years and 143 days old, the teenager became the youngest African ever to score at a World Cup, overtaking a list filled with some of the continent’s most celebrated names.
His late strike in Senegal’s 3-1 defeat to France pushed three former Super Eagles stars into the spotlight once again.
Julius Aghahowa remains one of the youngest Nigerian scorers at the tournament after netting against Sweden at the 2002 World Cup. The goal is still remembered as much for his header as for the seven backflips that followed.
Daniel Amokachi also features prominently after scoring in Nigeria’s famous 3-0 win over Bulgaria during the country’s debut World Cup appearance in 1994. His powerful run and finish helped announce the Super Eagles to the world.
Ahmed Musa completes the Nigerian trio. Against Argentina in 2014, he scored twice in a thrilling 3-2 defeat, becoming the first Nigerian player to score a World Cup brace.
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The updated ranking is now led by Mbaye, followed by Senegal’s Moussa Wagué, South Africa’s Benni McCarthy, Ghana’s Draman Haminu, Aghahowa, Ghana legend Asamoah Gyan, Eto’o, Amokachi, Musa, and Morocco’s
Youssef En-Nesyri.
Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2026 World Cup and will need to wait to the next edition to possibly contribute to the chart.
