I want to beat Yekini’s record – Victor Osimhen

    The Goal Father! Rashidi Yekini tries a spectacular against Spain in Nigeria's France 98 World Cup opener. Nigeria won 3:2 (Photo ...

 

 

The Goal Father! Rashidi Yekini tries a spectacular against Spain in Nigeria's France 98 World Cup opener. Nigeria won 3:2 (Photo credit: @Guardian)

Rashidi Yekini may be dead but his feats with respect to global football cannot be buried, years after his death, no one comes close to his records for the Super Eagles of Nigeria.

 

Victor Osimhen commands the highest transfer fee among African players after his transfer for Napoli from Lille and now has Rashidi Yekini’s achievement in his sights. The 21 year old told newsmen on Thursday of his desire to retire as Nigeria’s highest goal scorer.

 

Rashidi Yekini retired from international football as a king, scoring 37 times for the Super Eagles of Nigeria in 58 games and was instrumental to the 1994 AFCON triumph as well as the World Cup in USA same year.

 

Osimhen is far off Yekini’s numbers and he’ll have to do more scoring than talking if he ever wants to be regarded as being better than the likes of Yakubu Ayegbeni, Emmanuel Emenike, Osaze Odewingie, Obafemi Martins and many others that have tried and failed in the past.

 

Nigeria is blessed with amazing forwards and it’s hard to believe that no one has been able to near Yekini’s numbers, there were big hopes on the shoulders of Kelechi Iheanacho but his inconsistencies won’t let him into such conversation.

 

Victor Osimhen however isn’t arrogant with his desire, he said "I've always said for me to fill in the shoes of a legend, the late Rashidi Yekini is kind of heavy for me but I think I'm on the right path towards this direction," Osimhen told the media.

 

"If I'm injury-free I can achieve this but it's never going to be easy and of course with the confidence, the coach has in me and the fans also support me I think it's achievable”

 

"For now I want to keep on helping the team, keep on doing well with my club and I'm really looking forward to achieving this feat but it's never going to be easy.

 

"Compared to what he has done for the national team and he's made a name for himself all over the world, it's a huge step for me. By the special grace of God, I'm going to achieve this feat and also pass it".

 

Victor Osimhen has scored four goals in nine appearances for the Super Eagles since his debut in 2017, he’s expected to lead the line when Nigeria meets Sierra Leone over two legs in Benin and Cape Town on Friday and on Tuesday respectively.