Galatasaray of Turkey star, Victor James Osimhen has described late legend, Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s greatest striker ever, sports247.ng reports.
Osimhen gave the accolades against the backdrop of his emergence as Nigeria’s joint-second highest goals scorer of all time.
The youngster’s 81st minute equaliser against Benin Republic on Thursday took Osimhen level on 23 goals with Segun Odegbami, and both are second placed behind ‘Yeking’ on 37.
Although Osimhen still has to score 14 goals to equal Yekini’s magical haul of 37, among which was Nigeria’s first ever at the World Cup in 1994, many observers are already tipping the lad on loan from SSC Napoli to soon become number one.
This is considering that he is just 25 years old and yet to reach his prime, but Osimhen, who has also previously played for VfL Wolfsburg of Germany, RC Charleroi of Belgium and Lille Metropole of France, is quick to parry any comparison between him and Yekini.
“I really don’t care about it,” Osimhen said at the Super Eagles’ camp in Ikot Ekpene, ahead of their last match of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers on Monday.
“I just want to do my job and try to win games. I just want to score goals with lots of assists for my team.
“If I equal it, that means I equal it, or even surpass it. But that doesn’t take away the fact that Rashidi Yekini is the greatest striker the Super Eagles ever had.
“His record was created a very, very long time ago, and it is still standing.
“We should give that man his credit and also celebrate him,” Osimhen suggested.
He will now aim for at least a goal against Rwanda inside Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo during the last AFCON 2025 qualifying game.
That would take his haul to 24 goals, placing him alone in second spot, one ahead of Odegbami and 13 to go before thinking of surpassing Yekini’s 37.
