‘I can surpass Yekini’s goals record’ – Osimhen

Super Eagles and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen has said he has the quality to equal and even surpass the goals record of legendary Nigerian forward, Rashidi Yekini.

 With 15 goals in 22 games, Victor Osimhen currently has the best goals-per-game ratio of any striker who has donned the Super Eagles jersey. 

 Yekini played for more than 15 years in the Super Eagles squad, scoring 37 goals in 62 appearances in the period, the highest of any Nigerian attacker. Since his retirement in 1998, no Eagles striker has been able to match or break late Yekini’s goals record.

 Although, Segun Odegbami, a 1980 AFCON winner came close but ended with 23 goals, while former Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni is third with 21 goals. Former Villarreal striker Ikechukwu Uche sits fourth on the country’s scorers chart with 19 goals while Obafemi Martins completes the top five with 18 goals. 

 Osimhen, who occupies the 10th position on the country’s top scorers list, said he is confident that with hard work, he could overtake Yekini. “I used to say before that it will be a big shoe to fill, but with the kind of quality that I possess, and the kind of determination that I’ve acquired in my career, I think I can actually break it or even surpass it,” Osimhen told Naijafootballers. 

 “But it won’t be easy and that won’t make me the greatest Nigerian striker ever. For me, we still have the likes of Rashidi Yekini, Odion Ighalo, Obafemi Martins and the rest of them, but now I believe it’s my time and it’s my turn and I think I can utilise it very well.” 

 On his ability to score with his head, the Napoli forward added, “I’ve been practicing a lot while growing up. 

Those that know me know I use my head to score more goals than I use my feet and the mask also gives me the confidence to go into any duel and score the headers. I think I will continue to improve as I keep using my head.”