Victor Osimhen has emerged as the top scorer of the qualifying series of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

His three goals in the 6-0 defeat of Sao Tome & Principe brought his total to 10, five more than his closest rival, Senegal Sadio Mane.

His topping of goal chart could also put him in the frame to win the African Footballer of the Year award holding in Morocco in December.

Nigeria End The Afcon 2023 Qualifiers On High Note

The Super Eagles finished the 2023 Africa Cup of Nation qualifying series amassing a total of 22 goals, the highest by any of the 54 entries for the competition.

But 16 of the goals were against one team, Sao Tome & Principe who were beaten 10-0 and 6-0 respectively in away and home matches.

Teenager Coco Gauff mounted a fierce comeback to beat Belarusian second seed Aryna Sabalenka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in the U.S. Open women’s final on Saturday, claiming her first Grand Slam title and cementing her place in American tennis royalty.

With the win, sixth seed Gauff became the first American to win a U.S. Open singles title since Sloane Stephens in 2017.

Gauff, 19, fed off noisy local support as she fought back in the second set and kept the momentum going until the end of the battle, before falling to the court on Arthur Ashe Stadium as she clinched the title with a backhand winner.

Sabalenka had a superb start but could not keep the momentum going as unforced errors piled up and she closed her 2023 Grand Slam run, which included an Australian Open title and semi-finals at Roland Garros and Wimbledon, on a disappointing note.

“It doesn’t get more dramatic than that, to be honest,” said Gauff, who lost in her only previous major final appearance last year at Roland Garros.

“I knew today was going to be one of those problem-solving tough matches because she’s a tough opponent, so I’m obviously happy with the result.”

There were early signs of nervousness from both players, as Gauff made a pair of unforced errors to help Sabalenka to a break in the opening game, and the Belarusian dropped serve in the fourth game with two double faults and an unforced error.

The crowd urged on Gauff, the first American teenager to reach the U.S. Open singles final since Serena Williams in 2001.

But Sabalenka blocked out the noise and used her mighty forehand to convert on a break point chance in the fifth game. The Belarusian was helped to another break in the seventh as Gauff double faulted and made two more costly forehand mistakes.

The 25-year-old Sabalenka, who will take over as world number one in the new rankings, had ended Gauff’s run at Indian Wells earlier this year but told reporters this week she expected a “different player” in Saturday’s final.

She ended up facing just that in the second set, as the American showed new resolve when she fended off a pair of break points in the first game and flipped the script.

What was once a lopsided affair turned into a battle as Gauff increased her intensity, sending Sabalenka scrambling around the court in the fourth game before the Belarusian dropped her serve with a double fault.

Gauff produced an overhead smash to break in the opening game of the third set and converted another in the third game.

Sabalenka took a medical timeout after the fifth game, consulting a physio for an apparent issue with her left thigh, but did not appear worse off as she broke in the next game.

If Gauff was rattled, however, she did not show it, winning a 20-shot rally before breaking back in the seventh game and soaking up the adoration of the crowd at the major she grew up watching as she clinched the title.

Sean Strickland defeated Isreal Adeanya to become the new UFC middleweight champion of the world with all judges scoring the fight in his favour at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.

A first-round knock down by the American was the highlight of the fight that went the whole five rounds.

All three judges scored the fight 49-46 for the American and new middleweight world champion, Strickland. He did it with nonstop pressure and steady, upright boxing never once attempting a grapple.

It is back to the drawing board for the Nigerian-born fighter Adesanya as he was on the back foot throughout the clash at UFC 293.

This is his third loss bringing his record to 24-3 now while Strickland improves to 28-5.

Nigerian duo Victor Osimhen and Asisat Oshoala are both delighted to have being nominated for the prestigous Ballon d’Or award in the men’s and women’s category.

Both players are part of the five African players vying to win one of the most prestigious awards in the football world since George Weah achieved this feat in 1995.

Other players from the continent shortlisted for the award are Egypt’s Mohamed Salah, Cameroon’s Andre Onana and Yassine Bounou from Morocco

Osimhen earned a place on the men’s shortlist after scoring 31 goals last season for Napoli who clinched their first Italian league title in 33 years.

The 24-year-old also made history becoming the first African player to claim the prestigious Italian Serie A golden boot award, also known as the ‘Capocannoniere,’ edging out competition from Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez to land the coveted individual accolade.

He is also the leading scorer in the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign with seven goals.

Oshoala, on her part, is the only woman from the continent nominated in the female category. She has won the Confederation of African Footballer’s African Women’s Player of the Year award a stunning five times.

The 28-year-old was the top scorer for Barcelona Femeni last season after she notched 26 goals (21 league goals and five in the Women’s Champions League) in all competitions.

Speaking about his nomination, Osimhen told Football Fans Tribe,” It feels good, glory be to God for this achievement. For me, it is a big milestone and a childhood dream. You know, being up there is amazing.

Osimhen also gave credit to his family and friends whose support has helped him to keep going, even during hard times, and even though the nomination is great, it is not as good as it gets for the prolific goalscorer.

“It’s an amazing feeling for me and I thank those who have been very supportive and helpful to me, and my family also, they stood by me through the hard times. This is just the beginning, we’ll keep working hard to achieve all my dreams.”

Oshoala, a five time African Women’s Player of the year was Barcelona’s top scorer with 26 goals (21 in the league and five in the Women’s Champions League) in all competitions last year.

She was also instrumental in Barcelona Femeni winning the league title and the Women’s Champions League last season.

“I’m very happy about the nomination and excited for what’s to come. I had a tough end to the season, but I think I worked last year and I’m really happy I was able to get on the nomination list again for another year of hard work,” Oshoala told The MTN Super Falcons Show.

Oshoala was also nominated for the prestigious Sócrates Ballon d’Or Award for her humanitarian contributions.

Victor Osimhen’s hattrick in the Super Eagles thumping of Sao Tome and Principe in the final group game of the AFCON qualifier at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State capital, on Sunday, catapulted him to the fourth position in the list of the all-time highest goal-scoring Super Eagles’ strikers.

The in-form Napoli striker was last week nominated for the 2023 Ballon D’or Awards scheduled to be held in December.

The 24-year-old is one of the four African players vying to win one of the most prestigious awards in the football world since George Weah achieved the feat in 1995.

In this report, we examine the all-time Super Eagles’ leading goal scorers in an ascending order.

1. Rashidi Yekini

Rashidi Yekini leads the Top 10 Super Eagles’ all-time top scorers list

Yekini is by far and away Nigeria’s all-time leading top scorer with 37 goals, at least 14 more than anyone else so far and many believe his record will remain unbroken as he sits top of the list of Super Eagles’ all-time highest goalscorers.

Yekini scored 37 goals in 58 games at an impressive ratio of 0.63 goals per game. This is the bar that every Nigerian footballer has looked up to since Yekini retired from the Nigerian national team in 1998 having debuted in 1984.

2. Segun Odegbami

Segun Odegbami is popularly known as the ‘Mathematician’ because of his eyes for goals.

He scored 23 goals in 46 games for the Nigerian national team within a shorter period of time compared to the rest of the top ten. His national team career lasted from 1976 to 1982.

3. Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu Aiyegbeni is also one of the top 10 leading Super Eagles all-time top scorers and he is famous for his miss against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup.

He was a certified goal machine and ice-cold finisher. Yakubu scored 21 goals in 57 games for Nigeria between 2000 and 2012.

4. Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has now scored 10 goals in the current African Cup of Nations qualifier after Sunday’s hattrick against Sao Tome. On June 18, 2023, he scored a brace against Sierra Leone to take his Super Eagles tally to 17 goals, becoming the highest-scoring active player in the national team. His hat-trick today marked the 20th. 

5. Ikechukwu Uche

Ikechukwu Uche spent eight years in the Super Eagles setup, establishing himself as a clutch performer and reliable player for the Nigerian national team and retired as number four among the Super Eagles’ all-time highest goalscorers.

Uche is also on the Top 10 Super Eagles all-time top scorers list.

He scored 19 goals in 46 games between 2007 and 2015 for the Super Eagles after which he called it quits internationally.

6. Obafemi Martins

Obafemi Martins is one the very best strikers to have represented the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

Martins is on the Top 10 Super Eagles all-time top scorers list.

The former Inter Milan striker fondly called ‘Obagoal’ scored 18 goals in 48 appearances for the Super Eagles from 2004 to 2015.

7. Sunday Oyarekhua

Sunday Oyarekhua scored 17 goals in 28 games for the Nigeria national football team when they were still called the “Green Eagles” between 1971 and 1976.

Oyarekhua was prolific for the Super Eagles in the 1970s’ and he’s on the Top 10 Super Eagles all-time top scorers list.

8. Samson Siasia

Super Eagles legend Samson Siasia would go on to be more prominent for his national team involvement as a coach multiple times but he had a great playing career as well.

Siasia is more prominent as a Super Eagles manager but he had a successful playing career and he is on the Top 10 Super Eagles all-time top scorers list.

The striker found the net 16 times in 51 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1984 and 1999 before retirement.

9. Odion Ighalo

Al Hilal striker Odion Ighalo is another one of three players tied on 16 goals for the Super Eagles but he has done so in 70 fewer games than Ahmed Musa.

Odion Ighalo is also one of the Top 10 Super Eagles all-time top scorers list

Ighalo is among the Super Eagles’ all-time highest goalscorers having scored 16 goals in 37 appearances for the Super Eagles since debuting in 2015.

10. Ahmed Musa

Current Super Eagles captain Ahmed Musa is the most capped Super Eagles player in Nigerian football, he is also one of the strikers on the list of Super Eagles’ all-time highest goalscorers.

The 30-year-old winger has scored 16 goals in 107 games since debuting for Nigeria in 2010 and he still has time to add to that tally.

Super Eagles of Nigeria wrapped up the 2023 African Cup of Nations qualifiers with a comfortable 6-0 victory against the Patriots of Sao Tome and Principe at Nest of Champions, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom state, on Sunday.

A hat-trick from Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen and a goal each from Ademola Lookman, Taiwo Awoniyi, and substitute, Samuel Chukwueze ensured the team finished top of Group A ahead of Guinea Bissau.

With the team already qualified for the AFCON next year in Ivory Coast, they needed just a point to clinch the group top spot. They however went a step further picking the maximum three points and also scoring a combined 16 goals in two legs against their opponents.

It didn’t take too long before the goals started rolling in.  On 13 minutes, Osimhen got his first, rising highest to head home a corner from Lookman.

Lookman made it 2-0 In the 27th minute. Receiving a pass from Wilfred Ndidi, he cut inside from the left and drilled a low shot past the São Tomé keeper.

The second half produced four more goals for Jose Peseiro’s side with Nottingham Forest striker, Awoniyi making it 3-0 in the 51st minute with a brilliant strike after he received a floated pass from Kelechi Iheanacho.

Osimhen got his second goal from the penalty spot on 69 minutes to put the Eagles 4-0 ahead after being fouled inside the box by São Tomé keeper. Ten minutes later, he completed his hat-trick to make it 5-0.

Expectedly, the Super Eagles made a minced meat out of Sao Tome & Principe as they ended their 2023 Africa Cup of Nations on high note after beating their hapless opponents 6-0 to get an aggregate 16-0 scoreline.

The 6-0 win at the Godswill Akpabio Stadium in Uyo is the widest margin win the Nigerian recorded since beating Benin Republic 7-0 in an All Africa Games qualifying match on 14 January 1978.

Electric Victor Osimhen spearheaded the offensive, finding the net after 13 minutes, the first of his three goals of the match.

Ademola Lookman added a second with a neat finish before Osimhen netted a penalty after the break to put the result beyond doubt.

Taiwo Awoniyi and Samuel Chukwueze also got in on the act as Nigeria ran riot.

Osimhen completed his treble late on to cap a sensational individual display.

With the 6-0 win, Nigeria topped the Group A irrespective of the score line in Monday’s encounter of Guinea Bissau and Sierra Leone