By James Copnall
BBC West African football correspondent |
The established generation of African marksmen, which includes the likes of Shabani Nonda, Samuel Eto'o and Didier Drogba, have a new addition to their ranks: Sheyi Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Monaco and Togo striker has been in top form for club and country.
He scored the winner as Togo saw off Mali in their last World Cup qualifier and returned to France to score the goal that gave Monaco a valuable point in their 1-1 draw at Metz on Saturday.
A glance at the goalscoring charts proves Adebayor's quality - after ten French league games, he has notched five strikes, making him the joint second-highest marksman in Le Championnat.
Adebayor's record in the 2006 Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers is even better; after five Group One games, he has netted five goals, a record only Botswana's Dipsy Selolwane can match.
Former Nigeria captain Stephen Keshi, now Togo's coach, is - not surprisingly - a fan.
"Adebayor is almost of the same quality as Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu," Keshi told BBC Sport.
"He is a very talented player, but talent alone does not play the game. You have to work hard.
"He is a good player, and we just hope his career continues in this great direction," Keshi said.
Born 20 years ago, Adebayor was a spindly youth when he made his debut for French side Metz at the tender age of 17.
If his early form in France reflected hesitance, the six-foot four-inches tall striker, came into his own in his second season.
His 13 goals helped Metz gain promotion - and earned him a move to Monaco.
In his first season at Monaco, he struggled to make the team ahead of experienced players like Fernando Morientes, Dada Prso and DR Congo's Nonda.
But that has changed this year, as he has proved impossible to drop.
Adebayor's sparkling form means that even the prolific Nonda will struggle to win back his Monaco place when he recovers from injury.
With his goals helping Togo to second place in Group One, Adebayor's form will be vital in the Hawks' quest to reach the Cup of Nations finals in Egypt.
And with five games yet to be played in the qualifying series, an appearance at the 2006 World Cup finals is a dream that is not beyond Adebayor and his colleagues.
MMIX
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Adebayor is almost of the same quality as Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu