Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray striker and one of Africa’s most lethal forwards, has praised the late Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s greatest striker, even as he edges closer to breaking Yekini’s long-standing goalscoring record.
Osimhen, 25, equaled Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal tally last Thursday in a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic, becoming Nigeria’s joint second-highest scorer. However, he remains 14 goals shy of Yekini’s record 37 goals in 62 appearances for the Super Eagles.
In a video shared on social media, Osimhen downplayed the significance of overtaking Yekini’s record, emphasizing the late striker’s legacy. “If I equal it, I equal it; if I surpass it, I surpass it. But this doesn’t take away the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles have ever had,” Osimhen stated.
Yekini, revered for scoring Nigeria’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal and dominating African football in the 1990s, still holds the record nearly three decades later. He claimed consecutive AFCON top-scorer awards in 1992 and 1994, cementing his legendary status.
Osimhen’s journey to potentially surpassing this record has been marked by impressive performances in AFCON qualification games, where he has consistently demonstrated his value to the team. Despite a recent setback in Nigeria’s 2-1 loss to Rwanda, where he was a late substitute, the striker remains confident with upcoming opportunities in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 AFCON tournament in Morocco.
Osimhen’s humility and focus underscore his determination to balance personal achievements with the legacy of Nigerian football icons like Yekini.
