Former Super Eagles’ striker and African Footballer of The Year 1997, Victor Nosa Ikpeba has opined that his namesake, Victor Osimhen will soon break the goals scoring record of Nigerian legend, Rashidi Yekini in the country’s senior national team.
Sports247 gathered that Osimhen’s brace of goals in last Friday’s 2-0 win away to Rwanda took the Galatasaray of Turkey hitman up to 27 goals for the Eagles, and he is now just 12 behind the long standing record of 35 that has kept the late Yekini reigning as Nigeria’s top scorer ever.
However, with Osimhen aged just 25 and many more international matches obviously lying ahead of him, the next one being another 2026 World Cup qualifier this Tuesday versus Zimbabwe in Uyo, Ikpeba believes the 2023 African Footballer of The Year will soon overtake Yekini’s haul.
‘The Prince of Monaco’ went on to reel out a number of natural and attitudinal factors he feels would make Osimhen become the Eagles’ all-time highest scorer before hanging his boots.
Ikpeba theorised, “If he continues at this pace, I think he may just eclipse Rashidi Yekini. The reason I think this way is because he is so dangerous and fantastic. You cannot lack goals with him around.”
Ikpeba, who was part of Nigeria gold medal-winning under-23 team at Atlanta ’96 Olympic Games and in the Eagles’ squad that won silver on home soil in the year 2000 African Cup of Nations that was co-hosted with Ghana, added that Osimhen’s talent and character will always stand him out when it matters most.
“He’s a very committed player, and he’s spicy when he gets to the pitch. He gives everything he has. He runs at every ball, and he never gives up. So, we’ll see how long it will take him to reach up to the next level,” Ikpeba projected
