Nigeria has a rich history of soccer talent, with several prolific goal scorers making their mark on the national team.
From Rashidi Yekini to Obafemi Martins, these players have earned their place in the history of Nigerian football.
Victor Osimhen etched his name into history after his impressive performance in the Super Eagles’ Africa Cup of Nations final qualifier against Sao Tome and Principe.
Soccernet.ng takes a look at Nigeria’s all-time top scorers here, highlighting the remarkable rise of Victor Osimhen, who currently ranks fourth in the top scorers list.
1. Rashidi Yekini (37 goals):
Rashidi Yekini is Nigeria’s all-time top scorer with an astonishing 37 goals. His illustrious career spanned from his 1984 to his 1998, and he played a key role in Nigeria’s victory in the 1994 African Cup of Nations (AFCON), including his opening goal in the final against Zambia. He scored five important goals.
2. Segun Odegbami (23 goals):
Second leading scorer Segun Odegbami played 46 games for Nigeria and found the back of the net 23 times. He was the architect of Nigeria’s victory in his AFCON in 1980 and retired in 1984.
3. Yakubu Aiyegbeni (21 goals):
Yakubu Aiyegbeni began a successful career in English football, playing for clubs such as Portsmouth, Everton and Blackburn Rovers. In his international career, he played in 57 international matches and scored 21 goals. Yakubu represented Nigeria at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
4. Victor Osimhen (20 goals and counting):
Victor Osimhen’s rapid rise in Nigerian football continues to captivate fans. Osimhen’s hat-trick in the recent match against Sao Tome has taken his goals tally to a staggering 20, making him Nigeria’s fourth-highest scorer.
Osimhen is Nigeria’s joint-fourth leading scorer of all time, equals Ikechukwu Uche’s mark. ⚽️⚽️
Loading African Player of the Year❤️ pic.twitter.com/nSDjvx1Eyc
– Shina Oludare 🇳🇬 (@sportingsina) 10. 2023 年 9 月
His outstanding scoring ability has cemented his place among Nigeria’s football elite.
5. Ikechukwu Uche (19 goals):
Ikechukwu Uche is a Nigerian footballer who had a successful career in Spain, representing Nigeria 46 times and scoring 19 goals. He played for clubs such as Villarreal, Real Zaragoza and Malaga. Uche’s ability to find the back of the net has made him a valuable asset, especially during African Cup of Nations (AFCON) and World Cup qualifiers.
6. Obafemi Martins (18 goals):
Obafemi Martins made headlines when he moved to Newcastle United in 2006. Martins played an important role in the 2006 World Cup for Nigeria where he played 48 games and scored 18 goals. Martins retired from professional football in 2021.
7. Sunday Oyarekhua (17 goals):
Sunday Oyalequa is known for his prolific scoring ability, scoring 17 goals in 28 appearances for Nigeria. He became famous for his 1974 winning goal against Brazil. Unfortunately, Oyalequa passed away in 2021.
8. Samson Siasia (16 goals):
The name Samson Siasia is one of Nigeria’s top scorers who has scored a total of 16 goals for the national team. His contributions contributed to the rich history of Nigerian football.
9. Odion Ighalo (16 goals):
Odion Ighalo is a prolific striker, scoring 16 goals for Nigeria in his international career. During his time with the team, he made tremendous contributions to the Super Eagles.
10. Ahmed Musa (16 goals):
Ahmed Musa, known for his speed and scoring ability, also scored 16 goals for Nigeria. Musa’s unforgettable achievements include his two goals against Argentina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Nigeria’s football tradition is defined by its outstanding goalscorers, and Osimhen is the latest addition to this illustrious list.
