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Victor Osimhen vs. The Greatest Nigerian Strikers: Where Does The Galatasaray Forward Rank?
by Chike Nwoye
21 Nov 2024
Victor Osimhen’s late equalizer against Benin Republic last week was his 23rd goal for the Super Eagles, tying him with the legendary Segun Odegbami for second place on Nigeria’s all-time scoring chart.
This leaves him 14 goals shy of matching Rashidi Yekini’s iconic record of 37 and an extra goal away from owning the title outright. Naturally, this achievement reignited debates about the greatest strikers in Nigerian football history.
Osimhen, however, played it cool, saying, “I just want to do my job, try to win games, score goals, and provide assists for my team. And then, if I equal it, that’s it. But that doesn’t take away the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles (has) ever had because this record stood for a very long time and is still standing. We should give that man his flowers and also celebrate him.”
Classy response, as you would expect. Osimhen has always paid respect to the strikers like Yekini, Julius Aghahowa and Odion Ighalo who paved the way for him. However, we get to look at it more objectively. So, where does Victor Osimhen rank among strikers who have represented the Nigeria national football team? This is a very interesting and broad discussion that requires in-depth analysis. Let’s break it down as much as we can:
Goals/Goal-Scoring Ratio
This is probably the easiest way to measure them. Strikers are all about goals, and goals are quantifiable. So, by sheer number of goals, Victor Osimhen is the second greatest striker Nigeria has ever had, with his 23 goals sitting just behind Rashidi Yekini’s 37. But when you factor in goal-scoring ratios, things get tricky.
Yekini’s 37 goals came in 62 games, giving him an average of 0.60 goals per game. Osimhen, however, has scored 23 goals in 38 games, which gives him a slightly better average of 0.61 goals per game, putting him at the top of Nigeria’s scoring chart.
Other notable players on this list include Segun Odegbami (who we have to point out was a winger and played his entire career in the Nigeria Professional Football League) with an average of 0.47 goals per game, Julius Aghahowa at 0.44, Odion Ighalo and Obafemi Martins both at 0.43, and Ikechukwu Uche, who scored 19 goals in 46 appearances, averaging 0.41 goals.
Of all these names, only Osimhen and Yekini have an average of more than half a goal per game, highlighting their incredible goal-scoring talent.
Achievement With The National Team
Goals are key to any team's success, but true greatness comes when those goals lead to both team and personal achievements. Right now, let’s focus on the team’s success.
Once again, Rashidi Yekini’s name pops up. He played a pivotal role in Nigeria's 1994 AFCON victory and helped them finish as runners-up three times—in 1984, 1988, and 1990. He also bagged the AFCON Golden Boot in 1992 and 1994.
Segun Odegbami was part of the 1980 Super Eagles that clinched Nigeria’s first-ever AFCON title, and he won the Golden Boot that year too.
Emmanuel Emenike often flies under the radar in these talks, but he’s one of just four Nigerians, alongside Yekini, Odegbami, and Jay-Jay Okocha, to have won both an AFCON title and the AFCON Golden Boot, which he claimed in 2013.
This is where Victor Osimhen still has room to catch up to his legendary peers. While he’s scored plenty of goals, he’s yet to win an AFCON title or the Golden Boot. In fact, only one of his 23 goals for Nigeria has come at the AFCON. But with him still only 25, it’s not out of the question that he’ll end his career with both.
African Player of the Year Award
The CAF African Player of the Year is the most prestigious individual honour a player can earn on the continent, and yes, I’m still holding a grudge against CAF for never awarding Jay-Jay Okocha this title during his incredible career.
Let’s just say that if I ever find myself in a room with former CAF president Issa Hayatou, I won’t have many kind words for him. But I’ll save that rant for another time.
Only five Nigerian men have won the CAF African Player of the Year award, and barring any funny business, we expect Ademola Lookman to make it six in January.
In fact, we’re confident in saying our bet of the day for our online betting folks is for the Atalanta forward to win it.
Victor Osimhen’s late equalizer against Benin Republic last week was his 23rd goal for the Super Eagles, tying him with the legendary Segun Odegbami for second place on Nigeria’s all-time scoring chart.
This leaves him 14 goals shy of matching Rashidi Yekini’s iconic record of 37 and an extra goal away from owning the title outright. Naturally, this achievement reignited debates about the greatest strikers in Nigerian football history.
Osimhen, however, played it cool, saying, “I just want to do my job, try to win games, score goals, and provide assists for my team. And then, if I equal it, that’s it. But that doesn’t take away the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles (has) ever had because this record stood for a very long time and is still standing. We should give that man his flowers and also celebrate him.”
Classy response, as you would expect. Osimhen has always paid respect to the strikers like Yekini, Julius Aghahowa and Odion Ighalo who paved the way for him. However, we get to look at it more objectively. So, where does Victor Osimhen rank among strikers who have represented the Nigeria national football team? This is a very interesting and broad discussion that requires in-depth analysis. Let’s break it down as much as we can:
Goals/Goal-Scoring Ratio
This is probably the easiest way to measure them. Strikers are all about goals, and goals are quantifiable. So, by sheer number of goals, Victor Osimhen is the second greatest striker Nigeria has ever had, with his 23 goals sitting just behind Rashidi Yekini’s 37. But when you factor in goal-scoring ratios, things get tricky.
Yekini’s 37 goals came in 62 games, giving him an average of 0.60 goals per game. Osimhen, however, has scored 23 goals in 38 games, which gives him a slightly better average of 0.61 goals per game, putting him at the top of Nigeria’s scoring chart.
Other notable players on this list include Segun Odegbami (who we have to point out was a winger and played his entire career in the Nigeria Professional Football League) with an average of 0.47 goals per game, Julius Aghahowa at 0.44, Odion Ighalo and Obafemi Martins both at 0.43, and Ikechukwu Uche, who scored 19 goals in 46 appearances, averaging 0.41 goals.
Of all these names, only Osimhen and Yekini have an average of more than half a goal per game, highlighting their incredible goal-scoring talent.
Achievement With The National Team
Goals are key to any team's success, but true greatness comes when those goals lead to both team and personal achievements. Right now, let’s focus on the team’s success.
Once again, Rashidi Yekini’s name pops up. He played a pivotal role in Nigeria's 1994 AFCON victory and helped them finish as runners-up three times—in 1984, 1988, and 1990. He also bagged the AFCON Golden Boot in 1992 and 1994.
Segun Odegbami was part of the 1980 Super Eagles that clinched Nigeria’s first-ever AFCON title, and he won the Golden Boot that year too.
Emmanuel Emenike often flies under the radar in these talks, but he’s one of just four Nigerians, alongside Yekini, Odegbami, and Jay-Jay Okocha, to have won both an AFCON title and the AFCON Golden Boot, which he claimed in 2013.
This is where Victor Osimhen still has room to catch up to his legendary peers. While he’s scored plenty of goals, he’s yet to win an AFCON title or the Golden Boot. In fact, only one of his 23 goals for Nigeria has come at the AFCON. But with him still only 25, it’s not out of the question that he’ll end his career with both.
African Player of the Year Award
The CAF African Player of the Year is the most prestigious individual honour a player can earn on the continent, and yes, I’m still holding a grudge against CAF for never awarding Jay-Jay Okocha this title during his incredible career.
Let’s just say that if I ever find myself in a room with former CAF president Issa Hayatou, I won’t have many kind words for him. But I’ll save that rant for another time.
Only five Nigerian men have won the CAF African Player of the Year award, and barring any funny business, we expect Ademola Lookman to make it six in January.
In fact, we’re confident in saying our bet of the day for our online betting folks is for the Atalanta forward to win it.
● Bet on Ademola Lookman to Win the CAF Player of the Year Award
@1.42
Alongside Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Kanu (who won it twice), and Victor Ikpeba, Victor Osimhen joined the list of Super Eagles to win the prestigious honour when he won it last year.
Yes, his standout performances with Napoli in the 2022/2023 season were a huge factor in this achievement, but let’s not forget—he ended a 22-year wait for Nigerians to win the award again.
Club Performances
Typically, club performances don't weigh heavily when judging the greatest players for a national team. For the longest time, Diego Maradona was considered Argentina's greatest, even ahead of Lionel Messi, because Messi lacked senior team achievements.
It wasn’t until Messi led Argentina to two Copa América titles and a World Cup in the last four years that the debate shifted in his favour. That said, club success still matters.
Plenty of Nigerian players deserve recognition in this category. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi Martins, and Odion Ighalo were prolific scorers at the club level.
Julius Aghahowa claimed four league titles with Shakhtar Donetsk during his time in Ukraine. Kanu remains Nigeria’s most decorated player, with trophies spanning the Netherlands, Italy, England, and a league title with Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
Rashidi Yekini dominated in Portugal with Vitória Setúbal, netting an incredible 91 goals in 114 league appearances, alongside winning domestic titles with Shooting Stars and the defunct Abiola Babes.
Victor Osimhen belongs in this conversation. With over 120 career goals, a Serie A Golden Boot, and a Scudetto with Napoli, the 25-year-old is undeniably one of the world’s top strikers.
After a dramatic summer move to Galatasaray on loan, Osimhen has rediscovered both his form and joy. His six league goals leave him just two behind top scorer Ciro Immobile, while Galatasaray sit five points clear at the top of the Süper Lig.
Here are two solid betting tips: Galatasaray to retain the league title and Osimhen to secure the Golden Boot. At BetKing, you’ll find the best odds for both!
Alongside Rashidi Yekini, Emmanuel Amunike, Kanu (who won it twice), and Victor Ikpeba, Victor Osimhen joined the list of Super Eagles to win the prestigious honour when he won it last year.
Yes, his standout performances with Napoli in the 2022/2023 season were a huge factor in this achievement, but let’s not forget—he ended a 22-year wait for Nigerians to win the award again.
Club Performances
Typically, club performances don't weigh heavily when judging the greatest players for a national team. For the longest time, Diego Maradona was considered Argentina's greatest, even ahead of Lionel Messi, because Messi lacked senior team achievements.
It wasn’t until Messi led Argentina to two Copa América titles and a World Cup in the last four years that the debate shifted in his favour. That said, club success still matters.
Plenty of Nigerian players deserve recognition in this category. Yakubu Aiyegbeni, Obafemi Martins, and Odion Ighalo were prolific scorers at the club level.
Julius Aghahowa claimed four league titles with Shakhtar Donetsk during his time in Ukraine. Kanu remains Nigeria’s most decorated player, with trophies spanning the Netherlands, Italy, England, and a league title with Iwuanyanwu Nationale.
Rashidi Yekini dominated in Portugal with Vitória Setúbal, netting an incredible 91 goals in 114 league appearances, alongside winning domestic titles with Shooting Stars and the defunct Abiola Babes.
Victor Osimhen belongs in this conversation. With over 120 career goals, a Serie A Golden Boot, and a Scudetto with Napoli, the 25-year-old is undeniably one of the world’s top strikers.
After a dramatic summer move to Galatasaray on loan, Osimhen has rediscovered both his form and joy. His six league goals leave him just two behind top scorer Ciro Immobile, while Galatasaray sit five points clear at the top of the Süper Lig.
Here are two solid betting tips: Galatasaray to retain the league title and Osimhen to secure the Golden Boot. At BetKing, you’ll find the best odds for both!
Conclusion
Victor Osimhen is spot on—Rashidi Yekini is Nigeria’s greatest-ever striker. For now, at least. He checks all the boxes and set a benchmark that has remained untouchable since the mid-90s.
That said, Osimhen is right there in the conversation, and at just 25, you wouldn’t bet against him surpassing Yekini's legendary achievements.
BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria, offers you the chance to win big by betting on football tournaments like the Turkish Super Lig, Serie A and Nigeria Professional Football League. Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.
Conclusion
Victor Osimhen is spot on—Rashidi Yekini is Nigeria’s greatest-ever striker. For now, at least. He checks all the boxes and set a benchmark that has remained untouchable since the mid-90s.
That said, Osimhen is right there in the conversation, and at just 25, you wouldn’t bet against him surpassing Yekini's legendary achievements.
BetKing, the best betting site in Nigeria, offers you the chance to win big by betting on football tournaments like the Turkish Super Lig, Serie A and Nigeria Professional Football League. Join us today to get value for money. Try out the best betting app in the market and book a bet today to start your journey towards winning millions.