Mohammed Salah and Victor Osimhen are two of the biggest African footballers, well known for their elite-level goalscoring abilities at club and international levels. Both players are in electric form this season with Salah leading the scoring chart at Liverpool and Osimhen striking the most goals for Napoli in 2023/24.
With the two African stars lighting up the Premier League and Serie A respectively, we look at the player’s chances of becoming a top scorer for the 2023/24 campaign.
Salah vs Osimhen top scorer odds
These are the average odds currently available for each player to finish top scorer of their respective domestic leagues:
Salah: Rediscovering form for the Reds
Liverpool’s Mohammed Salah has made a strong start to the 2023/24 campaign. In 13 Premier League appearances, the Egyptian forward has struck 10 goals, seven of which have come in his last six matches.
This season, Salah has been a key player in a ruthless Reds attack that has scored 28 Premier League goals in just 13 matches. He is currently Liverpool’s top scorer and second in the overall Premier League scoring chart. Only Man City’s Erling Haaland has hit the net more frequently, with 14 goals.
Salah has won the Premier League Golden Boot title three times throughout his Liverpool career. As a result, the Reds talisman possesses the ability and experience to lead the scoring tally yet again in England’s top flight.
However, the emergence of Haaland will be Salah's biggest threat in 2023/24. Ultimately, Haaland’s consistency means the Egyptian will have to reach the top of his game week-in week-out to mount a challenge.
Osimhen: Injury-struck campaign has halted momentum
Napoli’s Victor Osimhen was central to the Azzurri’s title-winning campaign in 2022/23. The Nigerian ended the season with 26 goals from 30 starts and was the league’s top scorer.
While Oshimhen has started the 2023/24 campaign in positive form, with six goals in seven starts, a six-week injury lay-off between early October and late November has disrupted his rhythm.
Before his setback, Osimhen scored in three consecutive Serie A matches and only trailed Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martínez in the top scorer chart. However, the 24-year-old was back in action during Napoli’s 2-1 win at Atalanta on Saturday. Osimhen made a positive contribution in a 27-minute cameo from the bench – providing an assist for Eljif Elmas’ late winner.
In the coming weeks, Osimhen will get more game time for the Azzurri. However, potentially tight upcoming games against Inter, Juventus and Roma before Osimhen departs for AFCON duty with Nigeria might lead to fewer goalscoring opportunities.
Salah vs Osimhen: Can the ‘Egyptian King' edge the Nigerian hitman?
At this stage of the season, Salah has more goalscoring momentum compared to Osimhen. Moreover, Salah’s return of 19 or more goals in his last six Premier League seasons shows the Egyptian has the consistency to challenge Haaland in the Premier League goalscoring charts.
Osimhen’s lengthy injury lay-off, combined with a tough fixture list before Christmas, may disrupt his chances of winning another Serie A Golden Boot award.
For both players, securing the top scorer award will also be influenced by how well Egypt or Nigeria competes in the 2023 AFCON finals.
Though it won't do their Ballon d'or aspirations any favours, early elimination for either nation will mean Salah or Osimhen can get back to scoring form with their respective clubs. Alternatively, a deep run into the AFCON competition gives each player less time to catch up on the domestic front.
