Victor Osimhen says breaking the Super Eagles’ goal record is secondary to winning a trophy for Nigeria.
On Saturday, the striker scored once and provided an assist for another as Nigeria defeated Algeria 2-0 in the quarter-final of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The goal marked the 27-year-old’s fourth in the tournament and took his overall Super Eagles tally to 35 goals, just two shy of Rashidi Yekini’s national record.
Speaking after the match, Osimhen described Yekini as “the best striker Nigeria has ever produced”.
“It doesn’t matter if I equal the record or surpass it. Rashidi Yekini is the best striker Nigeria has ever produced,” he said.
“I have the likes of Odion Ighalo, who have inspired me also. I just want to win something for my country. And with the help of my teammates, I’m on that path.”
Osimhen’s previous AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire yielded only one goal as Nigeria reached the final and lost to the hosts.
In Morocco, he has already scored four times that number, with two more games still to play.
He attributed his current form to increased confidence and personal growth, saying it has transformed him both “as a player and as a person”.