By Abigail Philip David
Victor Osimhen, the Galatasaray forward, has paid tribute to late Super Eagles legend Rashidi Yekini, calling him Nigeria’s greatest striker of all time, regardless of whether he surpasses Yekini’s longstanding goalscoring record.
Osimhen recently equaled Segun Odegbami as Nigeria’s joint-second all-time leading scorer with 23 goals, following his strike in a 1-1 draw against Benin Republic last Thursday. However, he still trails Yekini’s record of 37 goals in 62 appearances for the national team.
In a video shared on social media, the 25-year-old striker emphasized that surpassing the record would not overshadow Yekini’s legacy.
“I really don’t care about the record. I just want to do my job—win games, score goals, and assist my teammates,” Osimhen said. “If I equal it, I equal it; if I surpass it, I surpass it. But that doesn’t change the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles have ever had.
“This record has stood for so long, and it still stands. We need to give him his flowers and celebrate him for his incredible achievements.”
### Yekini’s Legacy in Nigerian Football
Rashidi Yekini’s legendary status was cemented by his extraordinary achievements, including being the first Nigerian to score at a FIFA World Cup, in 1994. He was also the top scorer in the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in both 1992 and 1994, leading Nigeria to victory in the latter.
His record of 37 goals has stood for nearly 30 years, highlighting the magnitude of his impact and the challenge Osimhen faces in chasing the milestone.
### Osimhen’s Path to Greatness
Osimhen’s journey as one of Africa’s top strikers has been remarkable. Most of his 23 international goals have come during AFCON qualification matches, underlining his importance to the team. Despite his form, he missed an opportunity to close the gap on Yekini’s record in Nigeria’s shock 2-1 loss to Rwanda on Monday, where he came on as a substitute in the 77th minute.
However, with upcoming matches in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and the 2025 AFCON in Morocco, Osimhen has ample time to add to his tally.
At just 25, the Galatasaray forward has a bright future ahead, but as he has stressed, Yekini’s legacy remains untouchable in the history of Nigerian football.
