Meet 12 Super Eagles’ all-time leading goal scorers for Nigeria
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Renowned for his prolific goal-scoring ability, Yekini netted 37 goals in 58 international matches and represented the Super Eagles of Nigeria in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups. He made history by scoring Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal and was honoured as the African Footballer of the Year in 1993.
By Kazeem Ugbodaga
The Nigerian national men’s team, the Super Eagles, have been a powerhouse of talent from the 1970s to the present, producing legendary players like the electrifying Segun Odegbami and the unstoppable Rashidi Yekini. These icons left an indelible mark on Nigerian football, dazzling fans with their skill and goal-scoring prowess. However, many Nigerians remain unaware of the Super Eagles‘ all-time leading goal scorer—a record that stands as a testament to true football greatness. Who holds this prestigious title? The answer may surprise you.
1. Rashidi Yekini – 37 goals
Rashidi Yekini (23 October 1963 – 4 May 2012) was a Nigerian football legend who played as a forward, gaining prominence with Vitória de Setúbal in Portugal.
Renowned for his prolific goal-scoring ability, Yekini netted 37 goals in 58 international matches and represented the Super Eagles of Nigeria in seven major tournaments, including two World Cups. He made history by scoring Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal and was honoured as the African Footballer of the Year in 1993. Yekini helped the Super Eagles win the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations in Tunisia where he also topped the goal charts and was named best player of the competition. He also participated at Olympic level in Seoul 1988
2. Victor Osimhen- 25 goals
Victor Osimhen (born 29 December 1998) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a striker for Galatasaray, on loan from Napoli, and the Nigeria national team. Known for his pace and strength, he began his senior career at Wolfsburg before excelling at Charleroi, Lille, and Napoli. In 2023, he became the first Nigerian to finish in the Ballon d’Or top ten and was named African Footballer of the Year.
Osimhen led Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years and is Nigeria’s joint-second all-time top scorer. He was honoured as a Member of the Federal Republic in 2023. He has scored 25 goals for the Super Eagles in 39 appearances.
3. Segun Odegbami – 23 goals
Segun Odegbami (born 27 August 1952) is a former Nigerian footballer who played as a forward. Nicknamed “Mathematical” for his skill and precision, he won 46 caps and scored 23 goals for Nigeria, leading the team to its first Africa Cup of Nations title in 1980.
He spent his entire club career with IICC Shooting Stars (1970–1984), playing in the 1984 African Champions Cup final. Born in Lagos and raised in Jos, he studied engineering at the Polytechnic. His nickname was coined by legendary commentator Ernest Okonkwo. Odegbami is also a half-nephew of Nigerian author Amos Tutuola.
4. Yakubu Ayegbeni – 21 goals
Yakubu Ayegbeni (born 22 November 1982), known as “The Yak,” is a Nigerian football agent and former striker. He impressed in the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League with Maccabi Haifa, earning a move to Portsmouth, where he helped secure Premier League promotion.
He later played for Middlesbrough, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers, scoring 96 goals, making him the fourth-highest African scorer in Premier League history. Yakubu is Nigeria’s fourth-highest all-time scorer with 21 goals in 57 appearances and represented the country at four AFCON tournaments, the 2010 World Cup, and the 2000 Olympics.
Ikechukwu Uche (born 5 January 1984) is a former Nigerian footballer who played as a striker and scored 19 goals in 46 appearances. Known for his acrobatic goal celebrations, he spent most of his career in Spain, arriving before age 20. Over nine La Liga seasons, he played 194 matches and scored 42 goals for clubs including Recreativo, Getafe, Zaragoza, Villarreal, Granada, and Málaga. Uche represented Nigeria in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments.
6. Obafemi Martins – 18 goals
Obafemi Akinwunmi Martins (born 28 October 1984) is a Nigerian former footballer who played as a forward and scored 18 goals in 48 appearances for the Super Eagles.
Leaving Nigeria for Italy at 16, he launched his senior career at Inter Milan in 2002, winning Serie A, two Italian Cups, and the Super Cup. In 2006, he moved to Newcastle United, scoring 17 Premier League goals in his best season. He later played for Wolfsburg, Rubin Kazan, and Birmingham City, where he netted the winner in the 2011 League Cup Final. Martins also starred in MLS with Seattle Sounders, scoring 40 goals, before stints in China.
7. Sunday Oyarekhua – 17 goals
Sunday (“Sunny”) Oyarekhua was a Nigerian international football forward and career policeman.
Discovered while playing for Police F.C. Lagos, he earned 28 caps for the Super Eagles, then known as ‘Green Eagles’ of Nigeria between 1971 and 1976, scoring 17 goals. He marked his debut with a goal in a friendly against Upper Volta in 1971. A key player in Nigeria’s 1973 All-Africa Games triumph, he was also part of the squad at the 1976 AFCON in Ethiopia.
Beyond football, Oyarekhua had a distinguished career in law enforcement, retiring as Assistant Commissioner of Police in Osun State.
8. Samson Siasia – 16 goals
Samson Siasia (born 14 August 1967) is a former Nigerian football striker and ex-head coach of the national team. He led Nigeria from 2010 to 2011 and was reappointed in 2016.
On 16 August 2019, FIFA banned Siasia from football for life, later reduced to five years, after a match-fixing investigation. FIFA’s Ethics Committee ruled that he accepted bribes for match manipulation, violating its Code of Ethics.
As a player, Siasia had a successful career, representing Nigeria at international tournaments 51 times and scoring 16 goals before transitioning into coaching.
Odion Jude Ighalo (born 16 June 1989) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward for Saudi Pro League club Al-Wehda.
He began his career at Prime and Julius Berger before moving to Norway’s Lyn in 2007. A year later, he joined Udinese but spent most of his time on loan at Granada. In 2014, he played a key role in Watford’s promotion to the Premier League. He later moved to China with Changchun Yatai and Shanghai Shenhua before a 2020 loan stint at Manchester United.
Ighalo debuted for Nigeria in 2015, starred at the 2018 World Cup, and won the 2019 AFCON Golden Boot and has scored 16 goals for Super Eagles in 37 appearances.
9. Ahmed Musa – 16 goals
Ahmed Musa (born 14 October 1992) is a Nigerian footballer who plays as a forward or winger for Kano Pillars and the Nigeria national team.
He became the first Nigerian to score twice in a FIFA World Cup match, netting a brace against Argentina in 2014. In 2018, he repeated the feat against Iceland, making him the first Nigerian to score in two World Cups. Since November 2021, Musa has been Nigeria’s most capped player with 108 appearances and scored 16 goals. He also won the Saudi Premier League and Super Cup with Al Nassr in 2019.
11. Julius Efosa Aghahowa – 14 goals
Julius Efosa Aghahowa (born 12 February 1982) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as a striker and scored 14 goals in 32 appearances.
He had club stints in Ukraine, England, and Turkey. Known for his speed and acrobatic goal celebrations, Aghahowa famously performed six consecutive backflips after scoring against Sweden at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
12. Jay Jay Okocha – 14 goals
Augustine Azuka “Jay-Jay” Okocha (born 14 August 1973) is a Nigerian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. Regarded as one of Africa’s greatest players, he earned 73 caps for Nigeria between 1993 and 2006, scoring 14 goals, and featured in three FIFA World Cups.
Okocha began his career at Enugu Rangers before moving to Germany’s Borussia Neunkirchen in 1990. He played in top leagues across Europe, including the Bundesliga, Süper Lig, Ligue 1, Premier League, and EFL Championship, as well as the Qatar Stars League. Known for his flair and dribbling skills, he retired from professional football in 2008.
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