When the dust settled on the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign, Nigeria may not have sealed automatic qualification, but the headlines still belonged to one man, Victor Osimhen.
The Galatasaray forward left his signature on the campaign with an excellent hat-trick in the Super Eagles’ emphatic 4–0 win over Benin Republic.
Those goals didn’t just help Nigeria edge into the playoff round on goal difference; they also elevated Osimhen’s name into national football history.
With six goals in five matches, the 26-year-old has now climbed to joint-top of Nigeria’s all-time World Cup qualifiers goalscorers’ chart, tying Obafemi Martins on 10 goals. Osimhen reached that milestone in just 13 appearances, one fewer than Martins’ 12.
That hat-trick against Benin was vintage Osimhen: explosive, hungry, decisive. It was a timely reminder that, for all of Nigeria’s inconsistencies, their No.9 remains one of Africa’s most lethal finishers.
Now, as Nigeria prepare for the final hurdle, the continental and intercontinental playoffs, Osimhen stands on the cusp of a new frontier. He’s yet to make a World Cup appearance, but few would bet against him leading the Super Eagles to North America in 2026.
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World Cup qualifiers: Martins, Yakubu, and the legends behind Nigeria’s scoring legacy
To understand the scale of Osimhen’s feat, one must look at the legends he’s now standing alongside.
Obafemi Martins, the man who made the somersault his signature celebration, once led Nigeria’s charge with his 10 goals spread across the 2006 and 2010 qualifying campaigns. ‘Obagoal' helped Nigeria reach the global stage in 2010, but, ironically, never scored at the World Cup proper.
Third on the list sits Yakubu Aiyegbeni, another familiar name to Nigerian fans.
The Premier League’s all-time top Nigerian scorer found the net six times in 18 qualifying appearances across three campaigns. His most famous World Cup moment, of course, came not for a goal but for that unforgettable miss against South Korea in 2010.
Sharing fourth spot are a cluster of Nigerian greats, each leaving their own unique imprint on the Super Eagles’ qualifying history: Victor Moses, Kelechi Iheanacho, Nwankwo Kanu, Victor Obinna Nsofor, Ikechukwu Uche, and Sam Garba Okoye. All with five goals apiece.
Victor Moses, the former Chelsea and Liverpool winger, was instrumental in Nigeria’s 2013 AFCON triumph and back-to-back World Cup qualifications in 2014 and 2018. His blend of flair and determination defined a generation of Super Eagles football.
Nwankwo Kanu, the graceful Arsenal and Ajax legend, may not have found the net at the World Cup proper, but his creative genius and leadership remain timeless.
Iheanacho, meanwhile, continues to knock on history’s door. At just 28, he still has time to rise up the chart, provided he rediscovers his scoring touch in the green and white shirt.
In tenth place, the list closes with three iconic names from different eras, Victor Agali, Daniel Amokachi, and Segun Odegbami, each scoring four goals in Nigeria’s World Cup qualifying history. Their contributions laid the groundwork for what would become a rich tradition of attacking football in Nigeria’s national identity.
Just outside the top ten are household names who defined their own eras: Austin ‘Jay-Jay' Okocha, Joseph Yobo, Julius Aghahowa, Emmanuel Emenike, Peter Odemwingie, and Thompson Usiyan. Each recorded three goals in the qualifiers, each contributing a different kind of magic.
And then there’s the present generation – Moses Simon, William Troost-Ekong, Alex Iwobi, and Ahmed Musa – all sitting on two goals and counting. For them, the upcoming playoffs could be the perfect chance to add their names to Nigeria’s ever-evolving goalscoring folklore.
