Victor Osimhen has overtaken Yakubu Aiyegbeni to become the third-highest goal scorer in Super Eagles history, scoring his 22nd international goal on Saturday.
Osimhen achieved this milestone during Nigeria’s impressive 3-0 victory over Benin Republic in their first 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
The 25-year-old, recently loaned to Galatasaray from Napoli, started the game on the bench but was brought on in the 73rd minute to replace Victor Boniface. He quickly made an impact, scoring Nigeria’s second goal just six minutes after his introduction, following Ademola Lookman’s first-half opener.
This goal not only helped secure a comfortable win for the Super Eagles but also etched Osimhen’s name bolder in the annals of Nigerian football history.
Since his debut for Nigeria on June 10, 2017, Osimhen has now amassed 22 goals in just 36 appearances, boasting an impressive rate of 0.61 goals per game. His form, particularly during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers, where he netted 10 goals, has been instrumental in his climb on the scoring charts.
Osimhen’s ascent sees him surpass Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who held the third spot for years with 21 goals in 58 appearances. With only one goal scored at the AFCON earlier this year, Osimhen shared third place with Aiyegbeni.
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The current African Footballer of the Year now sits behind only legendary figures Rashidi Yekini and Segun Odegbami in the all-time list.
Yekini, with his record 37 goals, remains the gold standard for Nigerian strikers. The late forward, who played for the Super Eagles from 1984 to 1998, was instrumental in Nigeria’s 1994 AFCON triumph and became the first Nigerian to score in a World Cup, a feat he achieved at the 1994 edition in the USA.
Segun Odegbami, affectionately known as ‘Mathematical’ for his precise dribbling and goal-scoring prowess, holds the second spot with 23 goals. His remarkable performances were pivotal in Nigeria’s first Africa Cup of Nations title win in 1980, and his record has stood for over 40 years.
Currently following Aiyegbeni in the top five is Ikechukwu Uche, who scored 19 goals for the national team. Uche’s contributions were especially significant in Africa Cup of Nations and World Cup qualifiers.
As Osimhen continues his prolific goal-scoring form, speculation is increasing about his potential to surpass Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing record of 37 goals.