Victor Osimhen, Galatasaray’s prolific striker, has lauded late Super Eagles icon Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s greatest-ever striker, even as he inches closer to breaking Yekini’s longstanding goalscoring record.
Osimhen recently equaled Segun Odegbami’s tally of 23 goals, making him Nigeria’s joint second-highest scorer, after netting in a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic last Thursday. Despite this milestone, he still trails Yekini’s remarkable record of 37 goals in 62 appearances for the national team.
In a video shared on social media, the 25-year-old emphasized that surpassing Yekini’s record wouldn’t diminish the legendary striker’s legacy.
“No, no. I really don’t care about this. I just want to do my job and try to win games, score goals, and provide a lot of assists for my team,” Osimhen stated. “If I equal it, I equal it. If I surpass it, I surpass it. But that doesn’t take away the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles have ever had. This record has stood for a very long time, so I think we should give him his flowers and celebrate him.”
Yekini remains a revered figure in Nigerian football history, famously scoring the country’s first-ever FIFA World Cup goal in 1994. He also dominated African football, winning the top scorer award at consecutive Africa Cup of Nations tournaments in 1992 and 1994.
Yekini’s remarkable 37-goal tally, which has stood for nearly 30 years, underscores the magnitude of his achievement and the uphill task Osimhen faces in breaking it.
Osimhen has already established himself as one of Africa’s most lethal forwards, with most of his 23 goals coming during AFCON qualifiers, showcasing his critical role in the Super Eagles’ success.
Although he had an opportunity to close the gap on Yekini’s record during Nigeria’s 2-1 upset against Rwanda in Uyo, coming on as a 77th-minute substitute, he couldn’t find the net.
With upcoming matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, the young striker still has time on his side to inch closer to rewriting history while honoring the enduring legacy of Rashidi Yekini.
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