2023 AFCONq: Victor Osimhen nets historic brace, climbs up on all-time scorer chart

Red-hot Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen has surpassed Odion Ighalo, Samson Siasia, and Ahmed Musa’s goal record for the national team.

Fresh off becoming the highest scoring African in Serie A history with 50 goals, breaking Geoge Weah’s record, the Nigeria international has now set his sights on the national record.

The Super Eagles on Sunday defeated Sierra Leone 3-2 with Osimhen registering a first-half brace for Nigeria to book a spot at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).

The Seria A golden boot winner with 26 goals in a season, has now registered 17 goals in the Green and White shirt leapfrogging Odion Ighalo, Samson Siasia, and Ahmed Musa — who were on 16 goals each.

The 24-year-old who has established himself among the world’s finest strikers has made 24 appearances for Nigeria.

Meanwhile, Ighalo featured in 37 games and netted 16 goals, retired Samson Siasia scored 16 goals in 51 appearances for the national team while, Super Eagles Captain, Musa, with 107 appearances also has 16 goals.

However, the Napoli striker will be looking forward to meeting up with the goal prowess of the likes of Obafemi Martins, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Rashidi Yekinni who have more goals than him.

Rashidi Yekini of blessed memory is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Nigerian national football team. He is the only individual to score more than 30 times, netting 37 goals for the Super Eagles.

The striker was part of the national team from 1984 to 1998. Helping Nigeria win the 1994 AFCON was one of his major career highs. He won African Footballer of the Year in 1993, he was the top scorer with five goals at the 1994 AFCON.

Since his retirement in 1998, no Eagles striker has been able to match the late Yekini’s goals record, with Segun Odegbami, a 1980 AFCON winner, in a distant second with 23 goals, while former Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni is third with 21 goals.

Nicknamed ‘Obagoal’ for his sight for goal, Obafemi Martins made 48 appearances and scored 18 goals for the Nigerian national team, 10 of which were scored in 12 matches during the 2006 World Cup Qualifiers.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni was exceptional for the Nigerian national team where he scored 21 goals in 57 appearances. He was part of the squad that went for the 2010 World Cup and also scored a goal for the team.