In a heartfelt acknowledgment, Victor Osimhen, the current striker for the Super Eagles, has hailed Rashidi Yekini as the greatest striker ever produced by the Nigerian national team. Yekini, a key figure in Nigeria’s 1994 Africa Cup of Nations victory and renowned for his stints with Abiola Babes and Vitória Setúbal, remains the all-time leading scorer for the Super Eagles, amassing 37 goals in 62 appearances before retiring after the 1998 World Cup.

Despite challenges from subsequent talents such as Obafemi Martins, Yakubu Aiyegbeni, and Ikechukwu Uche, Yekini’s goal-scoring record has stood unbroken, solidifying his legacy as the pinnacle of Nigerian strikers.

Victor Osimhen, who reached a milestone of twenty-one goals for the senior national team after equalizing in Nigeria’s opening game at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, acknowledged Yekini’s profound impact on aspiring players. Expressing his admiration, Osimhen shared with Guardian UK reporter Osasu Obayiuwana, “Yekini is the most influential, the biggest striker that the Super Eagles has ever had. He inspired a lot of us that have come through the ranks.”

In aspiring to reach the heights set by Yekini, Osimhen sees him as the trailblazer and hopes to follow in his goal-scoring footsteps. Reflecting on Yekini’s unparalleled contributions to the Super Eagles, Osimhen expressed his desire to achieve a similar level of greatness.

With a goal-scoring opportunity against Guinea-Bissau, Osimhen aims not only to surpass Segun Odegbami but also to inch closer to Yekini’s remarkable record, continuing the legacy of Nigerian strikers.