Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles striker, has brushed aside conversations about equaling Rashidi Yekini’s legendary goal tally for Nigeria, emphasizing his focus on helping the team succeed.
Osimhen made history during Nigeria’s 1-1 draw with Benin in their penultimate AFCON 2025 qualifier, matching Segun Odegbami’s 23-goal milestone on the all-time Super Eagles scorers list.
Remarkably, the Galatasaray forward achieved this feat in just 37 appearances, fueling speculation that he will soon eclipse Yekini’s longstanding record of 37 goals.
At just 25 years old, Osimhen’s trajectory has drawn widespread admiration, with many tipping him to eventually surpass the late icon.
Nigerian fans are optimistic he can achieve this feat, especially as he prepares for another opportunity to add to his tally when the Super Eagles face Rwanda in their final AFCON qualifier on Monday.
Despite the mounting expectations, Osimhen remains unfazed.
Speaking in a video shared by Making of Champs on X, the striker praised Yekini’s legacy, urging Nigerians to celebrate the legendary forward’s achievements.
“I really don’t care about it,” Osimhen said. “I just want to do my job, try to win games, score goals, and give a lot of assists to my team. If I equal it, so be it, but that doesn’t take away from the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles have ever had.”
Osimhen highlighted the significance of Yekini’s record, which has stood for over 25 years.
Yekini’s last goal for the Super Eagles came on February 22, 1998, in a 2-2 friendly draw against Jamaica.
“This record has stood for a very long time, and it’s still standing. I think we should give that man his flowers and also celebrate him,” Osimhen added.
Yekini scored his 37 goals in 62 appearances, setting an incredible standard for Nigerian football.
With Osimhen having already netted 23 goals in just 37 games, the question remains: can he rewrite history?
One thing is certain—Osimhen’s focus will always remain on team success rather than personal accolades.
