17 players who have scored a hat-trick at the Africa Cup of Nations

We highlight the 17 stars who have score three or more goals in a single African Cup of Nations game.

The highly competitive level of the AFCON has meant that scoring up to three goals in a single game has been a rarity. Before Emilio Nsue’s treble in Equatorial Guinea’s 4-2 thumping of Guinea-Bissau a few days ago, the last time a player registered a hat-trick in Africa’s biggest showpiece was Morocco’s Soufiane Alloudi in 2008, 16 years ago.

In light of Nsue’s feat, we highlight the 17 players who have managed to score an AFCON hat-trick:

Ad-Diba (Egypt, 1957)

Mohamed Diab Al-Attar, popularly known as Ad-Diba, was a prominent Egyptian footballer in the post-World War II era. He began his career at Al Ittihad Alexandria Club in 1944, winning the Egypt Cup in 1948 and becoming the Egyptian Premier League’s top scorer. 

Though selected for Egypt's football delegation to the 1948 and 1952 Summer Olympic Games, he did not play in any matches. His international successes included helping Egypt win the first football edition of the Pan Arab Games in 1953 and the inaugural Africa Cup in 1957. Ad-Diba was the top scorer at the 1957 Africa Cup of Nations, scoring five goals, including four in the final against Ethiopia, leading Egypt to a 4-0 victory. 

He retired in 1958 and became an international football referee, officiating in several major tournaments, including the 1968 African Cup of Nations and the 1976 Summer Olympics. 

Mahmoud El-Gohary (Egypt, 1959)

Mahmoud El-Gohary was a significant figure in Egyptian football, both as a player and a coach. In the 1959 African Cup of Nations, hosted by the United Arab Republic (a union of Egypt and Syria at the time), he emerged as the top scorer with three goals. 

This achievement was particularly notable as the tournament was just the second edition of the Africa Cup of Nations and featured only three teams: the host United Arab Republic, Sudan, and Ethiopia. 

El-Gohary's performance was instrumental in the United Arab Republic's victory, as he scored a hat-trick in the opening match against Ethiopia, which they won 4-0. This strong start set the team on their path to winning the tournament.

Mohamed Morsi Hussein (1963)

Mohamed Morsi Hussein made a significant impact in the 1963 African Cup of Nations, a tournament remembered for its vibrant displays of football skill. During this tournament, held in Ghana, Hussein, alongside his teammate Hassan El-Shazly, achieved a remarkable feat in a match against Nigeria. 

Both players scored a hat-trick each in this encounter, contributing to a high-scoring 6-3 victory for their team, the United Arab Republic (now known as Egypt). This performance was not only a display of individual brilliance but also set a unique record: it was the first and only instance in the tournament's history where two players from the same team scored hat-tricks in the same match. 

Hussein's contribution in this match and the tournament as a whole cemented his place as one of the standout players of the 1963 African Cup of Nations. 

Hassan El-Shazly (Egypt, 1963, 1970)

Hassan El-Shazly, a notable player from Egypt, made a remarkable impact in the Africa Cup of Nations. He is the only player to have scored multiple hat-tricks in the tournament, achieving this feat in 1963 and 1970. His performances helped the United Arab Republic, now known as Egypt, secure third place in the 1970 AFCON, with his hat-trick contributing to a 3-1 victory over Ivory Coast​​​​​​.

Eustache Manglé (Ivory Coast, 1965)

Eustache Manglé, representing Ivory Coast, scored a hat-trick in the 1965 Africa Cup of Nations. 

Mangle’s hattrick game against Congo-Leopoldville (now the Democratic Republic of Congo). The Ivorians finished third in the competition, and Mangle, thanks to his hat-trick, finished joint top scorer for the edition of the competition, alongside Ghanaian duo Osei Kofi and Ben Acheampong 

Hacène Lalmas (Algeria, 1968)

Hacène Lalmas, representing Algeria, delivered a remarkable performance during the 1968 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored a hat-trick in a group stage match against Uganda on January 14, 1968, with goals in the 15th, 25th, and 70th minutes, leading his team to a 4-0 victory. 

Laurent Pokou (Ethiopia, 1970)

Laurent Pokou, another Ivorian legend, made his mark in the 1970 edition of the tournament. He scored an impressive five goals in a single match against Ethiopia during the group stage on February 10, 1970, with goals in the 21st, 60th, 71st, 80th, and 87th minutes.

Bernard Chanda

Bernard Chanda of Zambia showcased his talent in the 1974 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored three goals in a semi-final match against Congo-Brazzaville on March 9, 1974. His goals, coming in the 70th, 97th, and 111th minutes, were crucial in securing a 4-2 victory for his country. 

Joël Tiéhi

Joël Tiéhi, representing Ivory Coast, stood out in the 1994 tournament. He scored three goals in a group-stage match against Sierra Leone on March 27, 1994. His goals were scored in the 19th, 63rd, and 70th minutes, helping Ivory Coast to a comfortable victory. 

Kalusha Bwalya

Kalusha Bwalya, another Zambian football icon, made his mark in the 1996 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored three goals in a group-stage match against Sierra Leone on January 24, 1996. His goals came in the 2nd, 9th, and 87th minutes, contributing to Zambia's victory. 

Benni McCarthy (South Africa, 1998)

Benni McCarthy from South Africa achieved his hat-trick in the group stage of the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations against Namibia. His remarkable performance included scoring four goals in just 14 minutes, making it one of the most impressive scoring feats in the tournament's history​​.

Hossam Hassan (1998)

Hossam Hassan, a prolific Egyptian striker, displayed his scoring prowess in the 1998 tournament. He netted three goals in a group-stage match against Zambia on February 13, 1998. His goals, scored in the 34th, 57th, and 71st minutes, led Egypt to a 4-0 victory. 

Patrick Mboma (Cameroon, 2004)

Patrick Mboma became the first Cameroonian player to score a hat-trick in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations, achieving this against Zimbabwe. His goals were crucial in securing a 5-3 win for Cameroon​​.

Samuel Eto'o (Cameroon, 2006)

Samuel Eto'o, the Cameroonian football legend, shone in the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. He scored three goals in a group-stage match against Angola on January 21, 2006. His goals in the 20th, 39th, and 78th minutes were instrumental in Cameroon’s 3-1 victory on the day. 

Francileudo dos Santos (Tunisia, 2006)

Francileudo dos Santos, playing for Tunisia, delivered an outstanding performance in the same year, 2006. He scored three goals in a group-stage match against Zambia on January 22, 2006. His goals were scored at the 35th, 82nd, and 90+3 minutes, leading Tunisia to a​​ 4-1 win. 

Soufiane Alloudi (Morocco, 2008)

Soufiane Alloudi from Morocco scored a hat-trick against Namibia in the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations. His hat-trick included a goal in the first minute, a solo effort in the fifth minute, and a far post header in the 28th minute​​.

Emilio Nsue (Equatorial Guinea, 2024)

Emilio Nsue, representing Equatorial Guinea, scored a hat-trick in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. He became the oldest player to achieve this feat in the tournament's history after netting three goals against Guinea Bissau, helping his country to a 4-2 victory. 

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