I can't challenge Rashidi Yekini, Super Eagles' Victor Osimhen declares

Victor Osimhen says he can only try to emulate Rashidi Yekini by helping the Super Eagles as much as he can. (Photo Credit: Pulse Sports collage)

I can't challenge Rashidi Yekini, Super Eagles' Victor Osimhen declares

Izuchukwu Akawor 20:24 - 13.09.2023

Victor Osimhen is now fourth on the all-time top scorer list for Nigeria Super Eagles but believes top scorer Rashidi Yekini is too far ahead of him.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen does not believe he can challenge Super Eagles legend Rashidi Yekini as the nation’s all-time top scorer.

Osimhen said this during an exclusive interview with Pulse Sports Nigeria before the clash against Sao Tome and Principe in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

The Napoli man was one of the standout players as the Super Eagles ended the AFCONQ2023 on a high courtesy of a thumping win against Sao Tome and Principe at the weekend.

Osimhen vs. Sao Tome

The 24-year-old turned in a player-of-the-match performance to inspire Nigeria Super Eagles to a dominant 6-0 win against the Falcons and True Parrots on Sunday. 

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Napoli man Victor Osimhen scored a hattrick as it ended up in a 6-0 win for the Super Eagles against the Parrots. Image Credit - Osimhen/Instagram

Osimhen scored an excellent hat-trick, with one goal in the first half and two more in the second. 

The goals took his tally to 10 goals in six matches, making him the top scorer of the AFCONQ2023. 

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Victor Osimhen scored 7 goals in two matches against Sao Tome. (Photo Credit: CAF/X)

On Yekini

With his display against Sao Tome, Osimhen took his overall tally for the Super Eagles to 20 goals in 27 appearances.

He now sits fourth on the list of Nigeria’s highest-ever scorers, with just three goals separating him and Segun Odegbami in second. 

https://x.com/CAF_Online/status/1702034415256228048?s=20

While Osimhen is closing in on the top, he remains a distance behind the top scorer ever, Yekini, who scored 37 goals in 58 matches for Nigeria.

However, before the outing against the True Parrots, Osimhen admitted to Pulse Sports that while he has the ability to try to emulate Yekini, he does not think he can challenge the late legend and is not thinking too much about the record. 

Yekini
Rashidi Yekini is Nigeria's all-time highest scorer with 37 goals. (Photo Credit: Imago)

“I don’t think I can challenge the great, the legend Rashidi Yekini because he’s done so well for the country, for the Super Eagles, and to be able to try to follow in his footsteps is a huge one for me,” Osimhen told Pulse Sports. 

“But I think I have the ability to try to meet up with his numbers and to try to help the team as much as I can. I think I'm ready to go. I’m ready.”

Victor Osimhen and Taiwo Awoniyi celebrate against Sao Tome. Image Credit - Osimhen/Instagram

“I’ve got a lot of players that can also help and support me,” he added. “So, for me, I’m ready to give my all for the team. If I surpass the goal record, I pass it; if I equal it, I equal it, but I really don’t think about that. I just want to get as many goals as I can score for the team, which is the most important thing.”

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