Nigeria’s All-Time Scorers’ List As Victor Osimhen Closes in on Rashidi Yekini's Record
- Victor Osimhen continues to inch closer to Rashidi Yekini's all-time record following his hat-trick against Benin Republic
- The Nigerian international was sensational against the Cheetahs on the final day of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers
- Yekini, who scored 37 goals in 62 international matches for Nigeria, remains the country's highest goalscorer of all time
A rampaging Victor Osimhen increased his goals tally in the national team colours as he inches closer to the record set by Rashidi Yekini.
Osimhen grabbed a hat-trick as Nigeria defeated the Benin Republic 4-0 in the final match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
The 26-year-old opened the scoring in the 3rd minute when he found space in the danger area before firing a low drive into the net.
Source: Getty Images
Not done just yet, the striker headed home his second goal of the evening in the 37th minute as Nigeria took a two-goal lead.
With the hat-trick at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, the forward takes his tally to 29 goals in 42 matches.
Frank Onyeka added the icing on the cake in the 90th minute as Nigeria claimed an emphatic 4-0 win.
After the game, Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle expressed delight over the emphatic win, but cautioned that the race for the World Cup ticket is far from over as Nigeria heads to the playoffs.
“I am very happy for my players, especially the best striker in the world, Victor. Now we go to Morocco, it’s going to be very difficult. This is the start and I am proud of everyone and even the fans because they pushed us.”
Nigeria’s Top 5 Scorers' Chart
- Rashidi Yekini – 37 goals
- Victor Osimhen - 29 goals
- Segun Odegbami – 23 goals
- Yakubu Aiyegbeni - 21 goals
- Ikechukwu Uche - 19 goals
When Odegbami congratulated Osimhen
Odegbami, who retired from international football in 1981, had held the position of Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer for 44 years before Osimhen’s breakthrough in March 2025.
The legendary winger, nicknamed ‘Mathematical’ for his precision crosses and intelligent play, scored 23 goals in 47 appearances for Nigeria between 1976 and 1981. He said via Score Nigeria:
“Osimhen has finally overtaken me and I think that is good because the record has been hanging on for a very long time. I am very happy for him and I want to say good luck to him. He is still young and he has a long way to go.
"Even though I did not consider myself a classic goalscorer because I played mostly from the right wing as an outright winger for six short years that I played for the national team, the country began to expect me to score goals, I obliged, and the rest is history."
Source: Getty Images
South Africa qualify for World Cup
Legit.ng earlier reported that South Africa thrashed Rwanda 3-0 to pick the automatic ticket from the group, per iDiski Times.
Thalente Mbatha opened the scoring for Bafana Bafana as early as the 5th minute, and then Oswin Apollis extended the lead in the 25th minute. Evidence Makgopa sealed the victory for the team as South Africa finished on 18 points to win the group.
Source: Legit.ng
