Top Goal Scorers For Senegal Football Team All-Time: Senegal is famous for its love of football and has produced some great players who have made a name for themselves in the world. In this article, we’ll talk about the top goal scorers in the Senegal national football team’s history. These players have made their country proud and left a lasting impact on the world of football.
Even though Senegal hasn’t been in many FIFA World Cups, their best performance came in their first appearance in the early 21st century when the tournament was in Asia. They reached the quarterfinals but were knocked out by Turkey.
Senegal has won the African Cup of Nations once, in 2022. It was their first victory in this competition. They were also runners-up in 2002 against Cameroon and in 2019 against Algeria.
Top Goal Scorers For Senegal Football Team All-Time
Now, let’s talk about the list of the all-time top goal scorers for the Senegal national football team.
1. Sadio Mané
- Career Span: 2012–present
- Matches: 98
- Goals: 37
- Average: 0.38
Sadio Mané is the all-time top goal scorer for the Senegal national football team. He represented Senegal in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London and the African Cup of Nations in 2015, 2017, and 2019.
Mané played a crucial role in Senegal’s victory in the 2022 African Cup of Nations. He scored three goals in a qualifying match against Benin, helping his team secure a spot in the tournament.
With a total of 37 goals in 98 games, he became Senegal’s record goal scorer, making a significant contribution to his country’s football success.
2. Henri Camara
- Career Span: 1999–2008
- Matches: 99
- Goals: 29
- Average: 0.29
Henri Camara is another remarkable player in the history of Senegal’s national football team, securing the silver medal in the list of all-time top goal scorers.
He represented Senegal in several major tournaments, including the 2002 World Cup and five editions of the African Football Cup (2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008).
Interestingly, Camara had the option to play for Guinea internationally due to his father’s origins, but he chose to represent Senegal. He made this decision because he was born in Senegal and felt a stronger connection to the country where he grew up.
3. El Hadji Diouf
- Career Span: 2000–2008
- Matches: 70
- Goals: 24
- Average: 0.34
El Hadji Diouf, ranking 3rd in the list of top goal scorers for the Senegal national football team, had a notable career. He started playing for Senegal in April 2000 against Benin and, by 2005, he had made 70 international appearances, scoring 24 goals for his country.
Diouf played a significant role in Senegal’s qualification for the 2002 World Cup. Out of Senegal’s 14 goals in the qualifiers, Diouf scored nine, including two hat-tricks.
Due to his impressive goal-scoring abilities, he was affectionately nicknamed the “Serial Killer” by his fans in France and Senegal.
4. Mamadou Niang
- Career Span: 2002–2012
- Matches: 54
- Goals: 20
- Average: 0.37
Mamadou Niang holds the 4th position in the list of top goal scorers for the Senegal national football team.
Niang represented Senegal in several Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, including those held in 2004, 2006, 2008, and 2012. He also participated in the qualifications for the 2006 and 2010 World Cup while playing for the national team.
5. Jules Bocandé
- Career Span: 1979–1993
- Matches: 73
- Goals: 20
- Average: 0.27
Jules Bocandé holds the 5th position in the list of top goal scorers for the Senegal national football team and was a highly regarded professional footballer from Senegal. He played as a striker and is considered one of West Africa’s finest footballers ever.
In recognition of his talent and contribution to the sport, he was honored as an African Football Legend by CAF in 2009.
Bocandé represented Senegal in three editions of the Africa Cup of Nations, competing in 1986, 1990, and 1992 as a key player for the national team. His skills and achievements have left a lasting legacy in the world of African football.