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Much of the talk throughout the ongoing summer transfer window has been surrounding Super Eagles sensation Victor Osimhen. The Nigerian striker has emerged as one of the planet’s best strikers over the past few years, notably leading Napoli to their first title since the days of Diego Maradona just over a year ago with 26 goals in just 32 Serie A appearances. However, with the Gli Azzurri seemingly in turmoil, the club is looking to cash in on their prized asset.
Osimhen’s Future
Former Chelsea and Inter Milan boss Antonio Conte has recently taken over the reins of the former Scudetto holders, and he is under no illusions about the size of the task at hand. He recently stated that the club wasn’t at its very lowest point, but it wasn’t far off. As such then, they have opted that the best course of action is to raise some much-needed funds with the sale of their hitman up top, and there are plenty of potential suitors.
Both Paris Saint-Germain and Chelsea are considered frontrunners for Osimhen’s signature, and with his goalscoring record, he would surely be a hit at both clubs. But it isn’t just at the club level where the former Lille man has found the net with regular aplomb. He also scores goals for fun for the national team as well.
But just how many? And where does he rank on the all-time list of top scorers? Let’s find out.
Ikechukwu Uche
With a tally of 19 goals, Ikechukwu Uche is the Super Eagles’ fifth top goalscorer of all time. Remembered for his agility and raw speed, the former Villareal man could weave through opposition defenses with ease.
His ability to find the back of the net from various positions made him a versatile asset, and his knack for scoring crucial goals was something that endeared him to Nigerian fans. He scored key winners against Kenya in qualifying for the 2010 World Cup and against Namibia in qualifying four years later.
Victor Osimhen
The current jewel in the Nigerian crown, Victor Osimhen, is currently at 20 goals, fourth on the all-time list. However, his goals have been plundered in just 26 games, and at the age of just 25, he looks set to break every scoring record the country has ever had. His first goal came against Ukraine in a friendly in 2019, and that was when the floodgates opened.
However, unfortunately for the Scudetto winner, his rise to prominence has coincided with a fall from grace for the national team. He scored four goals in qualifying for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, but unfortunately, an away goals defeat to Ghana saw the Black Stars progress at Nigeria’s expense, representing just the second time since 1990 and the first time since 2006 that Nigeria didn’t feature on the global stage.
To make matters worse, Osimhen found the net just once throughout the recent Africa Cup of Nations, and had he taken his shooting boots to the Ivory Coast, he may well have helped his side overcome the hosts in the final.
Should Napoli’s plight this term, the latest odds from Bovada online sports betting make Osimhen’s current side a distant +800 fourth favorite for the title this year. If their star striker departs as expected, those odds will surely lengthen further.
Yakubu
Premier League cult hero Yakubu is Nigeria’s third-highest all-time scorer after netting 21 goals for his country. The powerful targetman was renowned for his strength and his presence in the box often spelled trouble for opposing defenses. His goal-scoring record speaks for itself to his effectiveness and consistency during his tenure with the Super Eagles.
He surely, however, should have had one more notch on his tally after that dreadful miss from two yards out against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup, a goal that would have sent his side through to the knockout stages. Fans of Portsmouth, Everton, and Middlesbrough won’t have a bad word said about him though. As the saying goes: “Feed the Yak and he will score.”
Segun Odegbami
Nicknamed ‘Mathematical’ for his stint at Nigeria’s premier technical institution; The Polytechnic, Segun Odegbami managed to net 23 times for the Super Eagles between 1976 and 1981.
Known for his skillful abilities on the wing, the now-70-year-old stands as a legend in Nigerian football history after helping his country win its first-ever African Cup of Nations in 1980, scoring a brace against Algeria in the final. But despite his exploits, he still falls somewhat short of number one…
Rashidi Yekini
At the top of the list with a mighty 37 goals is Rashidi Yekini, whose legendary status in Nigerian football remains unchallenged. His remarkable goal-scoring ability and his memorable celebration during the 1994 World Cup etched his name in history.
His record is a distant yet inspiring target for Osimhen, however, if the current leading light for the Super Eagles continues scoring at the current rate, he will surpass this record and then some in the coming years.
