Super Eagles and Galatasaray striker Victor Osimhen has backed himself to surpass Rashidi Yekini in Nigeria’s all-time goalscorer list, Soccernet.ng reports.
Yekini made history at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first Nigerian to score at the Mundial in their 3-0 win against Bulgaria.
He’d go on to score 37 goals in 62 games, but Victor Osimhen is closing in on the legend’s record. The Galatasaray striker has scored 35 goals in 46 games in the green and white colours of Nigeria.
With the AFCON 2025 semi-final against Morocco set to be the tournament’s biggest game, Osimhen could etch his name into Nigerian folklore against the Atlas Lions.
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Victor Osimhen is set to break Yekini’s goal record
At the start of the tournament, the former Napoli man revealed that breaking Nigeria’s all-time goal record wasn’t on his mind. For him, the goal is simple: help the team lift the AFCON 2025 tournament after failing to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
After scoring four goals in Morocco, Osimhen is chock-full of confidence and sheer belief in his ability to take over the 28-year-old record.
“To be honest, initially, I didn’t know about the record, but when it started coming out, a few friends of mine showed me and tried to motivate me, telling me I could do it,” the 27-year-old told CBS Sports Golazo in an interview.
“I know that I have the ability to do it because of the kinds of talent I have around me in the national team, but at the same time, it’s amazing to be up there with the greats.
“To know that what I’m doing now, I dreamt of as a young child, and watching the Super Eagles play, although I didn’t watch Mr Yekini, bless him, but he’s done something that inspired a lot of people that inspired me.
“People like Odion Ighalo under Gernot Rohr, as well as Obafemi Martins, so to be up there and on the verge of breaking the record is something I’ll never forget in my life.
“I’ll always hold it in high esteem. It’s an honour to be in the same conversation as the great Rashidi Yekini,” the 2023 CAF Player of the Year concluded.
Osimhen will be looking to put Morocco to the sword when he plays against the Atlas Lions in the AFCON 2025 semi-final tonight.