WATCH: Super Eagles star ranks Arsenal great Kanu above Yekini & Osimhen as Nigeria’s all-time greatest striker

Super Eagles forward Anayo Iwuala has hailed Arsenal legend Nwankwo Kanu as the greatest striker in Nigeria’s football history, Soccernet.ng reports.

Speaking in an interview with EaglesTracker, the former Enyimba FC star was tasked with ranking the five greatest Nigerian attackers of all time.

Former Super Eagles forward Nwankwo Kanu Former Super Eagles forward Nwankwo Kanu
Former Nigeria Super Eagles captain Nwankwo Kanu. Photo by IMAGO

After initially listing his picks blindly, Iwuala rearranged the order to place Kanu at the top, ahead of 1994 Africa Cup of Nations hero Rashidi Yekini, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen (currently on loan at Galatasaray), Obafemi Martins, and Yakubu Aiyegbeni.

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Nwankwo Kanu’s illustrious career makes a strong case for Iwuala’s choice.

Former Super Eagles captain captain Kanu. Photo by IMAGO

The former Super Eagles captain enjoyed success at every club he played for, including Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Portsmouth.

His trophy collection includes a UEFA Champions League title, a UEFA Cup, a UEFA Super Cup, an Intercontinental Cup, three Eredivisie titles, three FA Cups, and two African Player of the Year awards, among others.

Nwankwo Kanu and team manager Harry Redknapp, Portsmouth. Photo by IMAGO

On the international stage, Kanu won the FIFA U-17 World Cup and led Nigeria to Africa’s first Olympic football gold medal in 1996. He also earned a silver medal and three bronze medals at the Africa Cup of Nations during his remarkable career.

However, despite Kanu’s accolades, many football enthusiasts regard Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s finest striker.

Rashidi Yekini (Nigeria). Photo by IMAGO

Yekini, who passed away in May 2012, remains Nigeria’s all-time leading scorer with 37 international goals, including strikes at two World Cups.

He famously scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal in 1994 and was the first Nigerian to win the African Footballer of the Year award.


Rasheed Yekini (Nigeria, Mitte) gegen Demetrio Albertini (li.) und Alessandro Costacurta (beide Italien); Rashid, Rashidi, Nigeria – Italien 1:2. Photo by IMAGO

Yekini also holds the record as Nigeria’s highest scorer in AFCON history with 13 goals and was the top scorer and best player of the 1994 tournament, where Nigeria clinched their second title.

This post was last modified on January 22, 2025 1:50 pm

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele

Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad. From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.

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