With Victor Osimhen currently in one of the best goalscoring forms we have seen from a Nigerian footballer here is why the Napoli forward could become the highest goalscorer for the national side by 2026.
It’s fair to say that both Napoli and the Super Eagles of Nigeria hit the jackpot with the addition of Victor Osimhen to their squads. The 25-year-old football sensation, who was also a top 10 finalist for the Ballon d’Or in 2023, has not only won fans over with his on-field charisma but also with his remarkable goal-scoring record for both teams.
With his consistent performance, it’s reasonable to predict that Victor Osimhen could become the leading goal scorer for the Super Eagles of Nigeria by 2026, given his current form and scoring prowess for the national team.
Who is the highest goalscorer for the Super Eagles of Nigeria?
The highest goalscorer for the Super Eagles of Nigeria is the late Rashidi Yekini with a total of 37 goals in 58 appearances for the Super Eagles of Nigeria under his belt, a record he set whilst on international duty for Nigeria from 1984 to 1998.
Top 10 highest goalscorers for Nigeria
Here re the 10 highest goalscorers for the Super Eagles of Nigeria over the years. Rashidi Yekini tops the list with 37 goals with Segun Odegbami in second place with 23 goals, Yakubu Aiyegbeni in third place with 21 goals and Victor Osimhen in fourth place with 20 goals.
| # | Name | Position | National team career |
Goals | Caps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rashidi Yekini | FW | 1984–1998 | 37 | 58 |
| 2 | Segun Odegbami | FW | 1976–1982 | 23 | 46 |
| 3 | Yakubu | FW | 2000–2012 | 21 | 57 |
| 4 | Victor Osimhen | FW | 2017- | 20 | 26 |
| 5 | Ikechukwu Uche | FW | 2007–2015 | 19 | 46 |
| 6 | Obafemi Martins | FW | 2004–2015 | 18 | 48 |
| 7 | Sunday Oyarekhua | FW | 1971–1976 | 17 | 28 |
| 8 | Samson Siasia | FW | 1984–1999 | 16 | 51 |
| 9 | Odion Ighalo | FW | 2015–2022 | 16 | 37 |
| Ahmed Musa | FW | 2010– | 16 | 107 |
How can Victor Osimhen become the highest goalscorer for the Super Eagles of Nigeria by 2026?
Following our initial observation and assertion that Victor Osimhen could take the number one spot of the highest goalscorers for Nigeria by 2026, here are 2 key reasons that could facilitate such an event:
Victor Osimhen’s goal-per-game ratio:
According to research, Victor Osimhen boasts the highest goal-per-game ratio among all players currently occupying positions on the top 10 list of highest goalscorers for the Super Eagles, standing at an impressive 0.77. This statistic is substantiated by Osimhen’s remarkable tally of 20 goals in just 26 appearances for Nigeria. With upcoming international fixtures on the horizon, if he sustains his current form, Osimhen is on track to surpass the record and claim the title of highest goalscorer for the Super Eagles.
Upcoming tournaments and friendlies
From 2024 to 2026, international football is set to take center stage with an array of friendlies, qualifiers, continental tournaments, and the highly anticipated World Cup on the horizon. As a confirmed starter for the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Osimhen is slated to participate in at least 20 of these fixtures. These matches provide ample opportunities for him to not only equal but potentially surpass the current top spot on the list of highest goalscorers for the country.
What could stop Victor Osimhen from becoming Nigeria’s highest goalscorer by 2026?
Injuries or player’s match fitness
One major factor that could hinder Victor Osimhen from becoming Nigeria’s highest goalscorer in 2026 is the player’s match fitness levels and possible injury concerns. This could limit his game time during this period and in turn hinder him from breaking the record. This recently affected his availability for the Super Eagles in the recently concluded friendlies against Ghana and Mali.
All in all, Victor Osimhen is on the verge of achieving a historic milestone with the Super Eagles of Nigeria and it is safe to say he has the support of the fans.
Read the Latest Sport Trends and Get Fresh updates as they drop via Twitter and Facebook
