- Iwobi eyes century of caps
Two goals against the Atlas Lions on Wednesday would draw Victor Osimhen level with Nigeria’s legendary “Goalsfather,” Rashidi Yekini, on the country’s all-time senior national team scoring chart.
The Galatasaray striker has scored 35 goals in 51 appearances for the Super Eagles, while Yekini found the net 37 times in 58 matches for Nigeria.
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At 27 and firmly at the peak of his career, Osimhen is widely expected to surpass the record set by the late goal-poacher. When Yekini passed away on May 4, 2012, Osimhen had yet to emerge on the international stage.
Osimhen first announced himself to a global audience in 2015, finishing as top scorer with 10 goals and second most valuable player at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, which Nigeria won.
History beckons on Wednesday night as the former SSC Napoli forward, supported by Alex Iwobi, Akor Adams and Ademola Lookman, has the chance to match Yekini’s long-standing tally in the high-stakes semi-final.
Iwobi, who has been outstanding at this Africa Cup of Nations, is set to earn his 96th cap for Nigeria, closing in on the 100-cap milestone reached by former captain Joseph Yobo and ex-goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who both finished with 101 appearances. Ahmed Musa remains Nigeria’s most capped player with 111 caps.
