How Olunga ranks compared to other top African strikers this season
By Dennis Onyancha, May 30, 2024
Harambee Stars captain Michael Olunga was once again the top scorer for his side Al Duhail despite their drop in the Qatar All Stars League this season.
Al Duhail, who were champions last season, fell to sixth on the log with 28 points in 22 matches.
Olunga’s tally
The striker, who scored 22 goals last season, managed 16 in the league this season. In addition, he scored four goals in the Asian Champions League and seven goals for the national team, bringing his total to 28 goals for the season. Despite this, he lost the Golden Boot to Akram Afif.
His season was interrupted by a hamstring injury sustained in December during an Asian Champions League match against Persepolis.
However, he made a strong comeback, scoring important goals for both his club and country. His 28 goals this season place him fifth among the top African strikers, with his goals coming in 32 matches for both club and country in the 2023/24 season.
He ranks above former Liverpool striker Sadio Mane, who scored 25 goals in 54 games but bettered Olunga in assists, providing 15 for Al Nassr and Senegal.
Olunga is also ahead of DR Congo’s Simon Banza, a forward for Primeira Liga club Braga, who scored 23 goals in 50 games.
Olunga ahead
The strikers ranked above the Kenyan star include Guinea forward Serhou Guirassy, with 31 goals and two assists for VfB Stuttgart; Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah, who scored 30 goals and provided 17 assists in 50 games for Liverpool and Egypt.
He also ranks below former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who scored 30 goals and provided 11 assists in 52 games for Marseille and the Gabon national team; and Moroccan forward Abderrazak Hamdallah, who scored 29 goals and provided four assists in 38 games.