Musona third deadliest striker in Africa, ahead of Salah and Mane

Zimbabwe captain Knowledge Musona heads to Egypt in June as the third deadliest striker on the continent after a sterling run in the African Cup of Nations qualifiers that ended on Sunday.

Musona who plies his trade in the Belgian Pro League for Lokeren netted five goals— the last one a goal for the ages, one created out of nothing but pure class.

The forward lurched onto a defensive error to fire home a long range volley that thrust Zimbabwe into the driving seat against a tricky Congo-Brazzaville.

He deservedly finished the competition on five goals, two goals behind Nigeria’s Odion Ighalo who scored seven and one goal behind second placed Burundian footballer Fiston Abdul Razak.

Percy Tau of South Africa, Mo Salah of Egypt and Naimi Sliti of Tunisia finished on four goals apiece with Senegal’s inform striker Sadio Mané nowhere near the top guns.

Mane’s Teranga Lions completed their qualification campaign unbeaten with five wins and a draw, booking an Afcon berth with a match to spare.

“We gave everything. Our president declared two days of mourning and a game like this can make people happy and make people smile in these sad moments that we are facing,” Musona said.

He added that victory against Congo-Brazzaville was redemption as the side once had denied Zimbabwe an Afcon berth.