Since he emerged as one of the best players in the country’s history, every new talent that stands out is immediately compared to Rashidi Yekini. Yet none has been able to fill the void left by the legendary striker. Yekini, Nigeria’s all‑time top scorer and arguably the greatest striker the nation has ever produced, netted 37 goals in 58 appearances between the mid‑1980s and the late‑1990s. He was a key member of the Super Eagles’ Golden Generation, helping the team win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994, where he also finished as the tournament’s top scorer with five goals. Later that year, he scored Nigeria’s first ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria. In 1993, he was named African Footballer of the Year.
While it seemed no player could match the late striker, recent performances suggest a new Yekini may have emerged in Napoli’s forward Victor Osimhen. In 2020, the 21‑year‑old Osimhen admitted he was unsure whether he could fill Yekini’s shoes, saying, “I’ve always said for me to fill 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.” He added that staying injury‑free, the confidence of his coach and the support of fans would be crucial to achieving that goal.
Fast forward to 2023, the Napoli striker may need to reconsider his earlier doubts. Both players share many similarities. Although Osimhen is almost as fast as Segun Odegbami, another Nigerian great, his style of play aligns more closely with Yekini’s. While Odegbami and other Eagles forwards often operated from the wings, Yekini and Osimhen are outright strikers with a keen eye for goal. Their physical attributes are also comparable: Yekini stood 1.90 m tall, while Osimhen is 1.86 m. Remarkably, each scored 15 goals in their first 23 matches for the Super Eagles.
Yekini once came close to scoring what could have been one of the best goals in AFCON history against Egypt, chest‑controlling a pass and volleying, only to hit the crossbar. Osimhen replicated a similar move against Roma in February, but improved upon it by finishing decisively. He chested down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia’s cross, took a second touch with his thigh, and struck without the ball touching the ground—a goal that earned Serie A’s Goal of the Month award and could contend for Goal of the Season.
At just 24, Osimhen has enjoyed a brilliant start to his Nigeria career despite missing the Nations Cup. He appears well positioned to climb to the pinnacle of the nation’s scoring list over the coming decade and could very well fill the void left by Rashidi Yekini.
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