Yekini’s Record On The Brink As Iwobi Close-in-on A Century Of Caps

Two goals against the Atlas Lions on Wednesday will draw Victor James Osimhen level with Nigeria’s revered ‘goalsfather’ Rashidi Yekini in the number of goals scored for the senior Nigeria national team. The Galatasaray forward has 35 goals in 51 matches, while ‘Goalsfather’ netted 37 times in his 58 appearances for his country.

At just 27 years of age and at the peak of his powers, Osimhen is widely expected to score many more goals for Nigeria, effectively breaking the record set by the legendary striker. At the time of Yekini’s passing on 4th May 2012, Osimhen was yet to make his mark at international level.

He announced himself to a global audience in 2015, when he emerged as top scorer (with 10 goals) and second most valuable player at the FIFA U17 World Cup tournament, which Nigeria won in Chile that year.

History beckons for the former SSC Napoli forward on Wednesday night, as the 90-minute battle, for which he will have Alex Iwobi, Akor Adams, and Ademola Lookman providing valuable support, offers him the opportunity to equal the great man’s tally.

Iwobi, who has been outstanding at this AFCON, is set to earn his 96th cap for his country, bringing him closer to the century-mark achieved by former captain Joseph Yobo and former goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, who both amassed 101. Ahmed Musa remains the record holder with 111 caps.