Nigeria’s football history is replete with talented footballers who used their talents to bring honour to the country.
Over the years, many players have come and gone with varying degrees of success.
One class of players who have been relatively successful both at international and club levels are strikers.
From Rashidi Yekini, who is unarguably Nigeria’s most revered striker to younger generation of marksmen spearheaded by Victor Osimhen of Napoli, it would be fair to say that the country has been blessed in that area.
Today, Victor Osimhen is arguably Nigeria’s best marksman and he has he on course to become one of the most revered strikers in World football.
However, besides Osimhen and Yekini, there were other forwards who set a few European leagues ablaze with their talents and goal-scoring prowess.
They also contributed goals to the Super Eagles at the height of their powers as strikers.
Let’s go down memory for some of the most lethal forwards who have donned Nigeria’s green and white jersey.
1. Rashidi Yekini
Late Rashidi Yekini holds the honour of being the first Nigerian player to score at the FIFA World Cup.
He achieved this feat when he opened the scoring in the 3-0 bashing of Bulgaria at the USA 94 World Cup.
In fact, he banged in eight goals to ensure qualification for the Mundial.
Before the World Cup, he helped the Super Eagles to a second AFCON title in Tunisia with four goals.
In his time at Vitoria Setubal, a modest Portuguese club, he won the top scorer award in the 93/94 season with 21 goals.
2. Victor Osimhen
While Rashidi Yekini’s achievement might be a distant memory, another Nigerian striker is on his way to writing his name in the annals of history.
Victor Osimhen is a top marksman for club and country.
His already notched up 15 goals in 22 games for the Super Eagles and he has been touted to go on to break the long standing 37 goals record of the late Yekini.
And just in case you want to put your money where your mouth is and have a punt on Osimhen breaking all sorts of goal scoring records, you can find such betting odds on most of the betting sites in Nigeria.
There is also the added incentive of getting any of the betting bonuses listed on Betting Bonus Nigeria. So, it might be a clever idea to invest early on Nigeria’s No. 9! He is well on course to become the country’s greatest ever goal scorer.
3. Yakubu Aiyegbeni
Yakubu Aiyegbeni had a swell time playing football for both club and country.
He famously scored a Hat trick in the UEFA Champions League for an undecided Israeli club Maccabi Haifa against Manchester United.
Later on he moved to the Premier League where he turned out for the likes of Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough and Everton.
He left an indelible mark in the Premier League and managed to score 21 goals in the colours of Nigeria.
4. Obafemi Martins
Obafemi Martins rose to prominence as a youth prodigy at Inter Milan and he went to establish himself as one of the mainstays of the team.
His career took him to England, Spain, the United States and China where he scored tons of goals.
At National team level, he scored 18 goals for the Super Eagles.
5. Ike Uche
Ike Uche predominantly played for mid table teams in Spain. He turned out for the likes of Villarreal, Real Zaragoza and Malaga.
He played 46 times for the Super Eagles and contributed 19 goals in his time with the team.
With all due respect to your publication, Victor Osimhen shouldn’t have come as number 2 infact on this list, he is last for now
pls you have to include Samson siasia,segun odegbami and Daniel amokachi they are good attackers as well
Where Ahmed Musa
Hahah..small pikin analysis & observations that lacked real grade Nigeria soccer strikers histories. I doubt if the writer was given birth to during Yaking era. He just read it from goggle. Hahah…
what about victor ikpeba?
obafemi Martin’s and Ike uche were far,far better and more complete than yakubu , but that was a time when nothing in the super eagles was based on merit, just corruption, because Ike uche and Martin’s got their goals with about 20 fewer games than yakubu , it was really a wasted generation ,wasted because of bribery.
Whatever Osihmen is doing here I don’t understand. A striker that is “on his way” cannot be listed as one of the greatest. Let him get there first.
With all due respect Mr. Analyst, Victor Aghahowa & Victor Aghali shouldn’t be a forgotten names in the list of Nigeria top strikers.
I think we forget Agahowa .
Rashidi Yekini is the top 1 in my life