Osimhen, Nine Other Highest-Goal-Scoring Super Eagles’ Strikers

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September 10, 2023

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.

AFCON Qualifier: Osimhen Bags Hattrick As Super Eagles Thrash Sao Tome 6-0

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Emenike Agu

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September 10, 2023

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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.

Super Eagles Records Biggest Home Win In 45 Years

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Emenike Agu

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September 10, 2023

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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

Pres. Tinubu Heads to Abu Dhabi for Diplomatic Talks

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 10, 2023

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President Bola Tinubu will meet with the leadership of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during a technical stopover in Abu Dhabi, UAE, after the President’s departure from New Delhi, India.

The meeting will serve as a follow-up discussion to address specific, salient issues within the bilateral relationship after conversations held during a recent visit by the UAE Ambassador to the President at the State House in Abuja.

The President is to address lingering bilateral issues while maximizing the opportunity of the stopover to equally advance his investment promotion objectives with high-level authorities in the public and private sectors of the United Arab Emirates.

President Tinubu Applauds AU Inclusion In G20

Following a successful investment drive on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit, active participation in the G-20 Summit, and a productive stopover in the UAE, the President is expected to return to Abuja immediately following the bilateral engagement.

Exploring The Shilin Stone Forest In China

By

Angel Gimalo

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September 10, 2023

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The Shilin Stone Forest, or sometimes called just Shilin, is a notable natural formation of limestone, located in the Shilin Yi Autonomous County, within Yunnan Province, which is part of the People’s Republic of China.

With an estimated area of about 400 square km (150 square mi), this stone forest is looking like petrified trees, rising above the ground like some sort of stalagmites, creating enormous arrays of labyrinths that are easy for one to get lost between them.

Created over 270 million years ago, some of the tall rocks are rising even 30 meters (98 feet) towards the sky, and nowadays the interesting site forms part of the South China Karst region that extends over a surface which is measured by some to 500,000 square km (193,051 square mi).

This alluring place is interesting to those people who would like to get a different glance of China, where plenty of unique scenic spots can be seen here, thus making it one of the most unique places on Earth.

With a simple walk through the site, every visitor can gaze and marvel at the gorgeous masterpieces and simply be bewitched by the impressive formations.

Divided into many smaller stone forests, the most interesting are the Naigu Forest and Suogeyi Village, which are too part of the above mentioned South China Karst Region, making it part of the UNESCO World Heritage List.

In addition there are plenty of caves, waterfalls, ponds, a small lake with an island, and even an underground river.

Also, there are many legends that originated in this magical place, which were passed along by the native people known as Sani, who are branch of the Yi ethnic group.

One of the most famous legends is the one for Ashima, who is considered to be born here, and she was a beautiful girl of the Yi people.

After falling in love, she was not granted to marry her chosen one, and due to that, she turned into a stone in the forest that still bears her name.

Nonetheless, since almost all of the karst types have been identified in the park, it can definitely be acclaimed internationally as the ‘Museum of Stone Forest Karst’, where in the future there will be even more visitors.

Morocco’s National Football Team Donates Blood After Quake

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Angel Gimalo

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September 10, 2023

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Players and staff of Morocco’s national football team have given blood after a deadly earthquake hit their country.

More than 2,000 people have been killed by the 6.8-magnitude earthquake.

The team was due to play an African Cup of Nations qualifier against Liberia on Saturday in Agadir, 205km (127 miles) south-west of Marrakesh, but the game has been cancelled.

Morocco Earthquake: Aid Workers From West Midlands To Provide Relief

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Angel Gimalo

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September 10, 2023

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Aid workers from the West Midlands are among those making their way to Morocco after a huge earthquake killed more than 2,000 people.

More than 300,000 people in Marrakesh and its outskirts have been affected by the quake, with rescue workers struggling to reach more remote areas.

More than 1,400 have serious injuries.

Birmingham-based Syed Muhammad Faisal Sami, head of Faizan Global Relief Foundation (FGRF) UK, said he was set to arrive in Morocco on Monday.

Colleagues in north Africa had told him many people at the disaster site were still buried under buildings.

“Lots of people are in need and many people are waiting for us,” he said.

“Because we have experience of this in Turkey and Syria and other places, we have an idea what they need.

“Hopefully tomorrow when we arrive, all the things will be set up and we will start our distribution.”

The powerful earthquake in Morocco damaged buildings
Volunteer for the charity, Mohammed Sameer Hussain, who is also travelling on Monday, said aid workers would be coordinated with local teams and volunteers.

“They’ve told us that at the moment it’s just about saving lives, and getting people out of the rubble in areas which have been badly affected,” he said.

People were suffering from lack of food and water, he added.

“Our main focus, when we get there [on Monday], is to find out what the immediate need is, and go and distribute and give that aid to the people.”

Of the pair’s previous trip to Turkey to offer earthquake relief efforts, Mr Hussain said: “In other worldwide disasters we’ve both always been at the forefront, so this is the sort of operation we are very used to and we know how to be responsive.”

Morocco Earthquake: Workers Joyous After Rescuing Man From Flattened Building

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Angel Gimalo

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September 10, 2023

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Moroccan rescue workers in the town of Moulay Brahim have rescued a man from the ruins of a flattened building.

More than two thousand people have been killed, with many more injured, following a 6.8-magnitude earthquake southwest of Marrakesh.

Lagos State Government Builds New Staff Quarters For Nigerian Railway Corporation

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Angel Gimalo

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September 10, 2023

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The Lagos State government just handed over new staff quarters to staff of the Nigerian Railway Corporation, after demolishing their former staff buildings in order to build the Red Line train station in Ikeja.

The SSA to Governor Sanwoolu posted this in social media:

The Lagos State Govt had to demolish the Nigeria Railway Corporation Staff Quarters @info_NRC in Ikeja to get more space for the iconic Ikeja Train Station, The Staff quarters was rebuilt to a finer taste in another Location (Agege Station) and handed over to the Nigeria Railway Corporation.

The Brand New Staff Quarters made up of three blocks containing 16 units of two-bedroom flats and four units of one-bedroom flats are located on Shiaba Street around the Babatunde Raji Fashola Train station at Agege.

On Thursday, 15th April 2021, Governor of Lagos State, Mr Jide Sanwoolu performed the Groundbreaking Ceremony and commencement of Civil Works for the Lagos Rail Mass Transit (LRMT) Red Line Project.

The Governor has assured Lagosians that this Project will be ready by the end of the year 2023.

Tinubu Meets 3 Major Counterparts In Economic Development

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Rhoda Onuzulike

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September 10, 2023

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President Bola Ahmed Tinubu met with the Heads of State of three nations which have been identified as key partners in his economic development diplomacy drive for local investment and wealth creation.

For the Leader of Africa’s largest economy, a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of Europe’s largest economy, Germany, presented a unique opportunity to expand ties of prosperity for the people of Nigeria, but with a pragmatic approach toward ensuring the effective execution of agreements struck.

G-20 Summit: Tinubu In India to Bolster Economic Ties

“It is not, for us, only a matter of designing the financial architecture for an expanded economic partnership. It is also about the practicality of aligning the perspectives of your large-scale manufacturers, such as Volkswagen and others, with the reality of the new incentives my government is putting in place for them to come and prosper across multiple value chains and sectors inside of our country,” the President implored.

Apparently intrigued by the specific economic focus of the President’s proposal, German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, responded by acknowledging the mutually-beneficial nature of an escalation in the scale of economic ties with Africa’s largest economy.

“Thank you for this important discussion, Mr. President. I can appreciate this opportunity to advance our economic relations. Your market is unique and our companies have history in Nigeria. We acknowledge the business friendly reforms you have put in place. I am happy to inform you of my desire to visit you in Nigeria in October, which will allow us to carry forward these initiatives,” the German leader confided.

Following President Tinubu’s acceptance of the German Chancellor’s request to visit, the President proceeded to sit down with the Leader of Asia’s fourth largest economy, South Korea, during which, South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, commended the President’s regional leadership in upholding democratic tenets and norms.

“I wish to commend your strong leadership, following the peaceful transfer of power to you from your predecessor and we see a stable country in West Africa that is growing in stature,” he said.

President Tinubu responded by swiftly steering the discussion toward his economic focus as he immediately advanced proposals for an enhanced South Korean presence in Nigeria’s local manufacturing sector.

“We will leave nothing hanging. We will finalise what we agree to and we will execute. We will work point by point with you to secure rapidly implementable MoUs across sectors of partnership that will involve the active presence of your biggest firms, not just in terms of Nigerian consumption, but in local Nigerian production, from telecommunications to technology, and oil & gas,” the Nigerian leader affirmed.

The South Korean President responded in agreement, noting specifically that Nigeria’s education, technology and energy sectors are of utmost interest to South Korean investors and that he will mobilize his business community to take advantage of new Nigerian incentives for local industry.

Offering an invitation to visit Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu would conclude formal discussions at the G-20 with the Asian giant and host nation, which had invited Nigeria to the G-20 Summit, as he met with Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.

“There are many lessons our nation can learn from the rapid progress that India has made under your leadership. We see fantastic opportunity between our nations across sectors, such as agricultural development, but specifically, there is more we can do to advance ICT innovation and the emergence of Blue-Chip FinTech growth in Africa. Nigeria has the local players who can drive it from the front,” the Nigerian leader confidently asserted.

The hosting Head of State responded in the affirmative to the economic partnership proposal, even as he expressed gratitude for the Nigerian leader’s invitation to visit.

“Our teams must now stay close in touch to detail our priority areas of upscaled cooperation with respect to agriculture, defense industries capacity building, and even FinTech growth. I see your commitment. We believe there are immense prospects for Nigeria in the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and we will ensure that we come together and make progress on these fronts very rapidly,” the Indian leader concluded.

During the G-20 sideline meetings, President Tinubu also had substantive, informal exchanges of views with U.S. President Joe R. Biden; European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen; and World Bank President, Ajay Banga, amongst many others.

Chief Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

September 10, 2023