In the high-stakes crucible of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, a historic chase is unfolding. With a clinical brace against Mozambique in the Round of 16, Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen has inched to within touching distance of one of international football’s most enduring records: Rashidi Yekini’s all-time scoring mark for the Super Eagles.
By Victor Okoye
Fès (Morocco), Jan. 6, 2026 (NAN)
The 4-0 demolition of Mozambique at the Complexe Sportif de Fès was a statement of intent from Nigeria, but the narrative was singularly focused on their talisman. Osimhen’s goals in the 25th and 47th minutes—a poacher’s tap-in from Akor Adams and a sharp finish from Ademola Lookman’s pass—were not just pivotal to the victory. They elevated his international tally to 34 goals, leaving him just three shy of the legendary Yekini’s total of 37.
This moment is laden with significance beyond the numbers. For a generation of Nigerian fans, Rashidi Yekini is more than a statistic; he is an icon. His iconic celebration—gripping the net and roaring in sheer, unadulterated joy after scoring Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal in 1994—is etched into the nation’s sporting soul. His record, set over 62 caps and retired with in 1998, has withstood the test of time and the careers of greats like Nwankwo Kanu and Jay-Jay Okocha, who were creators more than pure finishers. To surpass Yekini is to touch a piece of Nigerian footballing divinity.
Osimhen’s journey to this precipice has been a blend of relentless drive and prolific form. Since March 2025, he has been in devastating touch for the national team, netting nine times in ten appearances. It was during this period that he surpassed another great, Segun Odegbami, to become Nigeria’s second-highest scorer. The match against Mozambique also marked a personal milestone: his 50th cap for Nigeria, underscoring his established role as the team’s offensive cornerstone.
Yet, the path is not without its subplots. The striker was substituted in the 63rd minute following a visible, if brief, on-field disagreement with provider Lookman—a reminder of the intense pressures and passions that define tournament football. However, Osimhen’s post-match comments revealed a mindset fixed on a collective prize. “I don’t think about records,” he stated. “I just fight for the team and try to contribute with goals and assists.” His focus, he insists, is solely on helping Nigeria secure a fourth AFCON title, a quest where his three tournament goals currently place him joint-second in the race for the Golden Boot.
The historical parallels and contrasts are compelling. Yekini, the powerful, archetypal number 9 of his era, was a force of nature for club and country in the 90s. Osimhen, a modern striker blending elite athleticism, intelligent movement, and fierce aerial ability, carries the torch in a vastly different footballing landscape. Equalling or breaking the record would not diminish Yekini’s legacy but would instead create a new chapter, connecting two eras of Nigerian football excellence.
As Nigeria prepares for a quarter-final clash against either Algeria or DR Congo, the nation watches with bated breath. Every touch Osimhen takes will be charged with the potential of history. The pursuit of Yekini’s record is no longer a distant possibility; it is a live, breathing narrative within Nigeria’s quest for continental glory. The next step awaits on Saturday.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
VO/BRM
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Edited by Bashir Rabe Mani
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