Nigeria has produced a lot of legendary goalscorers through the years, but who are the very best ones in the country’s history? Let’s find out today as we look at the top 5 all-time top scorers for the Super Eagles.
In this article, we’ll only be looking at goals scored for the Nigeria national team, so while goals in friendlies will count, club or youth team goals won’t.
But here’s a little spoiler; Victor Osimhen is not number one. But for sports betting fans who believe he can retire as Nigeria’s record scorer, using the Bet9ja Promotion Code can really improve the betting experience.
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Anyway, let’s now look at the Super Eagles’ all-time top scorers. Let the countdown begin!
- Ikechukwu Uche
The former Villareal and Getafe striker sits comfortably at number 5 in the list of all-time top scorers for Nigeria with 19 goals in 46 appearances.
He was part of the team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.
- Yakubu
It’s sad that he’s mostly remembered for his infamous miss against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup, but Yakubu is one of the finest strikers Nigeria has ever produced. He had a rich record in Europe and also often turned up for Nigeria.
He scored 21 goals for the Super Eagles and helped them finish in 3rd place at the 2002, 2004, and 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
- Segun Odegbami
In the 70s, Odegbami was the man! He helped Nigeria win the AFCON in 1980, where he was named top scorer, as well as in the 1978 edition.
He scored 23 goals in 46 appearances, meaning that he averaged a goal every other game.
- Victor Osimhen
He is one of Nigeria’s biggest exports right now and the only active player in the top 5. He made his senior team debut in 2017, and has since found the back of the net 25 times.
The 2023 African Footballer of the Year helped Nigeria reach the final of the 2023 AFCON and will be expected to lead the line again at the 2025 showdown in Morocco.
With the way he’s going, fans are confident that Osimhen will finish as the country’s all-time top scorer, but let’s see who he would have to beat.
- Rashidi Yekini
Who else could it be? This man produced one of the most iconic images in the history of Nigerian sports after he scored the country’s first ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria in 1994.
He was also a big AFCON legend. After reaching the final in 1984, 1988, and 1990, Yekini finally helped Nigeria win their second AFCON trophy in 1994 where he was named best player and top scorer. He was also named top scorer in the 1992 edition.
Rashidi Yekini, who was named African Footballer of the Year in 1993, retired from international football way back in 1998, but still sits comfortably as the country’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals.
What that means is that Osimhen has to score 13 goals in order to break this record. Will he do it?
