Victor Osimhen’s stunning goal last night against the Benin Republic during the Super Eagles’ 3-0 victory has made him the team’s second-highest scorer in history, tying with Segun Odegbami at 22 goals.
He didn’t start the game against the Cheetahs, possibly due to his late arrival to training after securing a last-minute move to Galatasaray. This was not his intended transfer, as failed moves to PSG, Al Ahli, and Chelsea occurred before the European window closed.
Austin Eguavoen made tactical changes in the second half, noticing his team had yet to add more goals. Osimhen was introduced in the 72nd minute for Boniface, and just six minutes later, he scored his 22nd career goal for the national team.
With 22 goals in 36 caps since his Super Eagles debut on June 10, 2017, Osimhen is now just 15 goals behind the all-time top scorer, the late Rashidi Yekini, who scored 37 goals during his career.
Between October and December 2015, Osimhen also featured in Nigeria’s U-17 and U-23 teams, netting 14 goals in 15 appearances.
Here is the list of the top scorers:
Rashidi Yekini – 37 goals
Victor Osimhen* & Segun Odegbami – 22 goals
Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 21 goals
Ikechukwu Uche – 19 goals
Obafemi Martins – 18 goals
Sunday Oyarekhua – 17 goals
Samson Siasia, Odion Ighalo, and Ahmed Musa – 16 goals
Julius Aghahowa and Jay-Jay Okocha – 14 goals
Daniel Amokachi and Kelechi Iheanacho – 13 goals.
Ademola Lookman scored a brace, with the second coming in the late minutes, helping Nigeria breeze past Benin in a 3-0 showdown in Uyo. They sit at the top of Group D with three points after the first game.
They take on Rwanda next on September 10 in the second group game of the qualifiers, away from home.
