What is a game of football without goals? Hard to imagine right? Indeed. Goals make the football more interesting, and fun to watch and the Super Eagles of Nigeria have been blessed with more than a handful of potent goals scorers over the years.
It is interesting to note these Super Eagles goal scorers have different and peculiar qualities, while some rely on speed and sheer strength others have nimble feet and can take on defenders in one-v-one situations before finding the back of the net.
The Super Eagles have always been blessed with talented goal scorers from time immemorial and it is hard to remember when the national team experienced a “fallow period” in terms of goal scorers.
From the legendary Segun Odegbami, Rashidi Yekini, Julius Aghahowa, Obafemi Martins, Yabuku Aiyegbeni, to Victor Osimhen, the Super Eagles have never lacked goal scorers in the team.
This post celebrates 10 of Super Eagles most potent scorers of all time.
10. Kelechi Iheanacho
The Owerri-born forward caught the fancy of the world at the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates where he scored six goals and provided seven assists.
His talent divided opinions as some thought he was the next Jay Jay Okocha given his dribbling skills and range of passes. Others taught he was going to be a striker for the national team in the future.
Unfortunately, both school of thoughts got it wrong as Iheanacho developed into a pure goal scorer without necessarily having a static position in the national team.
What set Iheanacho apart is his technical abilities and tactical flexibilities. He could score from free-kicks, penalties and also has the ability to shoot the ball quite well.
He scored his first goal for the Super Eagles at in an international friendly match against the Eagles of Mali in May 2016.
His goals were instrumental enroute to Super Eagles qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
Iheanacho is still part of the national team and currently has 14 goals in 54 matches.
9. Julius Efosa Aghahowa
Speed, power, and positional awareness, these qualities are what any coach could ever wish for in a striker or goal scorer. Julius Aghahowa had them all just like some of his predecessors and those that came after him in the national team.
The striker featured for the Flying Eagles at FIFA Under-20 World Cup hosted by Nigeria as well as at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.
Aghahowa scored on his debut for the Super Eagles at the 2000 Africa Cup of Nations hosted by Nigeria and Ghana.
He came on as a second half substitute for Benedict Akwuegbu as he scored Nigeria’s second goal against Tunisia in a group stage match.
The Benin-born striker didn’t just introduce himself to the fans with his goal but also with a iconic backflip goal celebration which became a trademark.
Julius Aghahowa represented the Super Eagles at the 2022 FIFA World Cup and scored the only goal of the team in a 2-1 defeat to Sweden in their opening match.
He also played for the team at the 2002 Africa Cup of Nations where he finished as joint top scorer alongside Cameroun’s duo of Patrcik M’boma and Salomon Olembé.
Aghahowa played 32 times for the Super Eagles and scored 14 goals.
8. Odion Ighalo
Ighalo wasn’t the fastest striker, but he lacked in pace, he complimented with power and his predatory instinct in the box.
His positional awareness was top notch during his time as Super Eagles striker.
He played in an era where he didn’t really have stiff competitors in the national team, but he never slacked delivering consistent performances when called upon.
Odion Ighalo scored seven goals – the most, during the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
He also finished as the top scorer during the tournament with five goals.
Ighalo retired from the national team after the tournament 16 goals after 37 matches.
He holds the record of being the first Nigerian player to play for Manchester United.
7. Ahmed Musa
He was not a striker but a decent goal scorer. He used his pace to beat defenders effortlessly and was very good with the ball.
He played primarily as a winger and occasionally as a support striker.
He made his debut for the Super Eagles during a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Madagascar but scored first goal in a friendly match against Kenya in 2011.
Ahmed Musa’s most remarkable outing for the Super was at the Brazil 2014 and Russia FIFA World Cup tournaments where he scored a brace each.
He holds the record of being the first Nigerian to score more than once at the FIFA World Cup.
Ahmed Musa is also the first Nigerian to score a brace at the FIFA Cup World.
He scored a brace against Argentina at the 2014 FIFA World Cup as well as Iceland at the 2018 edition of the tournament in Russia.
The Kano Pillars legend was part of the victorious Super Eagles team at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa.
Ahmed Musa has the most appearances for the Super Eagles – 109.
6. Ikechukwu Uche
Before Ikechukwu Uche came to the national team, the Super Eagles had strikers that thrived on pace, power and predatory instincts in the oppositions’ box.
However, he was a different breed. He is arguably the most skillful and elegant striker the Super Eagles ever had. IK Uche was so good with the ball and could take defenders in tight spaces.
He could shoot the ball from range and could also hold the ball to bring others into play. He utilized these qualities in place of his aerial deficiencies.
He wasn’t the tallest among his pairs, but with the ball on the ground, no defender is a match for him.
IK Uche made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2007 and was part of the Super Eagles team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 2013.
He scored 19 goals in 47 appearances for the Super Eagles.
5. Obafemi Martins
He is fondly called “The Weapon of Mass Destruction.” He had average height like Ikechukwu Uche but bettered him with aerial prowess.
Martins is the combination of Julius Aghahowa and IK Uche. He had the qualities of the two strikers and was a menace for defenders.
He was good with the ball and used his pace and power to go past defenders with ease. His positioning too was impeccable.
Obafemi Martins is fondly remembered for scoring the goal that qualified the Super Eagles for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.
He scored a last gasp goal as the Super Eagles beat Kenya 3-2 in Nairobi.
Although he had some issues with the Nigeria Football Federation during his stints with the Super Eagles, he remains one of the team’s finest strikers in history.
He scored 18 goals in 42 appearances.
4. Yakubu Aiyegbeni
“The Yak” was not exactly fans favorite especially after missing a sitter at the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Aiyegbeni, unlike some of his predecessors wasn’t the “power play” kind of striker.
However, he was deadly in the box. He is one of the most intelligent strikers the nation team ever had given his ability to hold up play, drag defenders away from their positions and create spaces for wingers.
Aiyegbwni wouldn’t run around or drop deep like Osimhen who can create something out of nothing.
He thrives more as an end product striker – some one that is always in good positions to bury half chances, rebounds, loose balls, tap ins.
Although, he scored some very good goals for the team, Aiyegbeni was a different kind for the Super Eagles and served the team well until that terrible miss at the World Cup.
He is one of the longest serving strikers in the team as he featured at the Sydney 2000 Olympics and retired in 2012 with 21 goals in 58 matches.
3. Segun Odegbami
Famous Nigerian footballer commentator in the 1980s Ernest Okonkwo who worked for Radio Nigeria coined the phrase “Mathematical” as Segun Odegbami’s nickname.
The nickname epitomizes his exquisite technical abilities on the ball: how he dribbles, passes and crosses the ball with unmatched accuracy form the right wing.
Segun Odegbami belongs to arguably the most talented generation of Nigerian football team ever. He played alongside the legendary Chief Justice Adokie Amiesimaka, Okey Isima, Christian Chukwu, Best Ogedengbe, Mudi Lawal among others.
Odegbami score twice in the final as Nigeria beat Algeria 3-0 in Lagos to lift its first Africa Cup of Nations.
Segun Odegbami played as a right winger/forward and scored 23 goals in 47 appearances for the “Green Eagles” which is known as Super Eagles today.
2. Victor Osimhen
If Rashidi Yekini were to be alive today, he would have been proud to have a striker who reminds him of his younger self. Whatever Osimhen is doing today, the late Rashidi Yekini did exactly the same if not much more.
Victor Osimhen is Super Eagles first choice striker, and he is an embodiment of sheer power and resilience on the ball.
The 26-year-old striker fights for every ball and put defenders under pressure all through the game even if he fails to score eventually.
Since, he made his debut in 2019 at the Africa Cup of Nations, no Nigerian striker has been consistent in the national team barring injuries.
Osimhen came in to replace Odion Ighalo in the national team and has not slacked. One is most remarkable performances for the national team was in 2023 where he scored four goals against Sao Tome and Principe in a 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier where scored four goals in a 10-0 win.
Victor Osimhen scored 10 goals and finished as top scorer during the qualification series.
He is on course to become Super Eagles all-time top scorer as he currently ranks second behind the late Rashidi Yekini who has 14 goals more than him.
Osimhen currently has 23 goals in 38 matches.
1. Rashidi Yekini
Veteran journalist Mumini Alao coined the name “The Goalsfather” as Rashidi Yekini’s nickname while covering Nigerian players in Europe in the 1990s across Portugal, Belgium and The Netherlands.
Rashidi Yekini is who Victor Osimhen is currently for those that did not get the opportunity to watch him play.
He remains an iconic figure in the history of Nigeria’s football as he scored the country’s first-ever goal in its maiden appearance of the FIFA World Cup in 1994.
Rashidi Yekini scored the opening goal as Nigeria thrashed Bulgaria 3-0 and went on to hold the net while crying and saying some words.
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Yekini’s celebration after scoring against Bulgaria, remains one of the most iconic images in the archives of the FIFA World Cup.
He led the Super Eagles to its second Africa Cup of Nations title in 1994. He finished as top scorer and was named player of the tournament.
Rashidi Yekini is unarguably the most complete Super Eagles striker ever.
He is the country’s leading scorer with 37 goals in 62 appearances.
Unfortunately, the striker died aged 48 in May 2012.
Time will tell if Osimhen will equal or break Yekini’s record. The striker has age on his side, and he is currently at his peak.
One significant thing worthy of note is that at no point has the Super Eagles struggled to get potent strikers throughout different eras of its football.
Currently, the Super Eagles are spoilt for choice with Ademola Lookman, Victor Boniface, Gift Orban, Victor Olatunji among others who have been putting in good numbers in Europe for their respective clubsides over the last 18 months.
