Victor Osimhen 2025: Is he Nigeria’s best striker since Rashidi Yekini?
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Since Rashidi Yekini buried that ball in the net, Nigeria get many strikers. Some good, some okay. But for 2025, one name dey always come up: Victor Osimhen. Everybody dey ask: Is Victor Osimhen best striker since Rashidi Yekini? We go dey use the long-tail primary keyword Victor Osimhen best striker since Rashidi Yekini 2025 to guide our discussion. If you dey follow Nigeria football (short tail parent keyword), you don feel the buzz: goals, records, fan debates, maybe even comparisons with Yekini’s golden days.
This post go examine Osimhen’s stats, his legacy so far, compare with Rashidi Yekini, look at rival strikers, and see wetin fans and experts dey say.
Let’s unpack the journey of Victor Osimhen, the peaks, the controversies, and whether he truly is Yekini’s heir in goals, in clutch moments, and in legend status in Nigeria football.
Rising Star: Osimhen’s Performance in 2025
To decide if Victor Osimhen is the best striker since Rashidi Yekini, we need cold, verified facts. Here’s what Osimhen has achieved in 2025 in terms of goals, transfers, records, and honors.
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Osimhen overtook Segun Odegbami to become Nigeria’s second-highest goal scorer, scoring a brace against Rwanda in a World Cup qualifier, bringing his international goals to 24 or 25 depending on which game counted.
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He has scored 17 goals in 2025 up to a certain point, putting him among the top scorers in Europe, on par with Robert Lewandowski and Viktor Gyokeres, and ahead of some heavyweights.
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At club level, Osimhen was on loan at Galatasaray (from Napoli) and delivered very strong numbers — many goals, many assists, consistent performances.
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Experts and former legends (Odegbami included) have tipped him to break Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing goal record for the Super Eagles.
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In off-field moves, he sealed a permanent transfer to Galatasaray in 2025 for a record fee in Turkish football, reflecting how much clubs believe in his quality.
These achievements show that within Nigeria football, Osimhen is not just talking — he’s delivering. But record and impact are two different things. Let’s compare with Yekini’s legacy.
Comparison: Osimhen vs Rashidi Yekini
To understand if Osimhen is the best since Yekini, we need to see how the two match up in several key dimensions: goals, big games, style, legacy.
| Metric | Rashidi Yekini | Victor Osimhen (as of 2025) |
|---|---|---|
| International goals (Super Eagles) | 37 goals in around 62 caps. | ~25 goals so far, surpassed Odegbami to take second spot. Needs ~12 more to reach Yekini’s record of 37. |
| Big tournaments impact (AFCON, World Cup) | Scored Nigeria’s first ever goal at World Cup (1994), was top scorer at AFCON etc. Legendary moments. | Osimhen has scored in World Cup qualifiers, in AFCON qualifiers; his performance important in helping Nigeria in recent qualifiers. But has he matched Yekini's finals moments yet? Not fully. |
| Club scoring consistency | Yekini played in different leagues, strong domestically, left legacy in Africa and beyond. | Osimhen has been prolific especially at Galatasaray and in Turkey, scoring many goals in 2025, winning Golden Boot (or rivaling highest scorers among Africans), etc. |
| Style & influence | Known for ferocity, physical presence, hunger; iconic celebration; symbol of Nigeria football. | Osimhen combines power, speed, finishing, movement; is more modern striker, pressures defenders; fans see him scoring in tight spaces. Scholars and pundits say he “goal poacher” quality. But some say less theatrics, more efficiency. |
From this, it becomes clear: Osimhen is well on his way to being one of the best. But “best since Yekini” is high bar — Yekini set standard in 1990s era of Nigeria football, many rivals who didn’t reach his heights. Still, Osimhen checks many boxes.
After this comparison, just to tie into wider narrative, check “Nigerian news and gossip: Latest Updates” for how Osimhen’s performances fit into ongoing developments and debates in Nigeria football: https://www.naijascene.com/2025/08/nigerian-news-and-gossip-latest-updates.html
Arguments For: Why Many Believe Osimhen Is Best Since Yekini
Here are reasons people dey argue strongly that Osimhen is Nigeria’s best striker since Yekini. Using Nigeria football as the lens helps see what the wider fans, media and experts dey observe.
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Goal-Scoring Rate & Records
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Surpassing Odegbami, becoming 2nd highest all-time in Nigeria’s goal charts is big.
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Scoring braces in important matches (World Cup qualifiers) shows capacity for impact.
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Club goals in 2025 are high; top scorers in league, and comparisons with very established European strikers.
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Physical & Tactical Attributes
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He combines physical strength, aerial ability, speed, positioning. No be small thing to get past tough defenders especially in Europe, or in qualifiers.
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Modern football demands more – pressing, hold up play, link-up play – and Osimhen has shown improvements.
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Recent Performances Under Pressure
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In World Cup qualifiers, Nigeria needed goals; Osimhen delivered.
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Against difficult opponents, in away matches, sometimes when team dey shaky, he steps up.
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Professional Growth & Transfers
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Move from Napoli to Galatasaray permanently shows trust from clubs. Also signifying that clubs believe in his consistency.
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Having golden boot or being among top scorers in Turkey, being compared with global strikers, helps his global standing.
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Fan & Expert Opinion
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Segun Odegbami himself tipped him to break Yekini’s record.
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Pascal Nouma said he’s best striker in Turkish Super Lig presently.
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Arguments Against / Counterpoints: Where Osimhen Hasn’t Yet Matched Yekini Completely
But no story balanced without seeing the weaker spots. Here are areas where some believe Osimhen doesn’t yet compare fully to Yekini:
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Big Tournament Legacy: Yekini’s goals in AFCON, and especially his World Cup first goal, are iconic. Osimhen needs performances in big finals or at big tournaments to match that aura.
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Longevity at Peak: Yekini’s peak years spanned many tournaments; could Osimhen maintain this high level over 10+ years, with injuries, competition?
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Clutch Moments & Emotional Impact: Yekini’s celebrations, emotional weight (e.g. first World Cup goal, being hero in AFCON), these created legends. Some fans feel Osimhen is more about the goals than the moments.
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Different Eras: Nigeria football of Yekini’s era had different playing conditions, less media, maybe less physicality in certain areas, but also less exposure. Comparing across eras always tricky.
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Comparisons with Other Strikers: Other Nigerian strikers since Yekini (e.g. Yakubu, Martins, Ighalo) had bursts. Some may argue one of them achieved more in finals, despite lesser consistency globally.
Stats & Key Moments You Must Know
Let’s present some of Osimhen’s key stats and moments supporting the Victor Osimhen best striker since Rashidi Yekini 2025 argument:
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He scored two goals vs Rwanda in a crucial 2026 World Cup qualifier to put Nigeria ahead in the scoring charts.
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He scored ~17 goals in the calendar year 2025 by April, placing him among Europe’s top scorers, ahead of many established names.
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He has been regularly club top scorer / among top scorers in his club competition (Super Lig etc.).
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The international goals tally: Surpassing Odegbami’s older record, now sitting 2nd in Nigeria’s all-time scorers (behind Yekini). Number of goals required to equal or surpass Yekini: about 12 more.
After these stats, a reminder for readers: this kind of discussion ties into broader Nigeria football trends and stories. You may want to check “Nigeria News and Gossip: The Untold Stories Shaping 2025” (https://www.naijascene.com/2025/09/nigeria-news-and-gossip-untold-stories.html) for context on leadership, team building, what’s happening off the pitch.
Comparison with Other Nigerian Strikers Since Yekini
To see whether Osimhen is best since Yekini, we must compare him with his peers who also made waves.
| Striker | Strengths | Where Osimhen Pulls Ahead |
|---|---|---|
| Yakubu Aiyegbeni | Great scoring in Premier League, clutch performances, consistency for Nigeria. | Osimhen has higher goals per game in recent international matches; more dominance in club competition lately. |
| Obafemi Martins | Pace, flair, scored in different leagues, memorable goals. | Osimhen’s physicality, finishing with head and foot, more consistent recent form, perhaps better record in qualifiers. |
| Odion Ighalo | Scored in AFCON; reliable inside the box; memorable strike vs Algeria. | Osimhen has more goals, breaking records, more visibility, performing in Europe’s bigger platforms. |
| Ahmed Musa / Others | Musa’s longevity, scoring, bringing leadership; others have had flashes. | But hardly any have matched Osimhen’s scoring rate or breaking of historic records so far. |
So among strikers after Yekini, many are good, some great. But Osimhen appears to be in a class above most, especially in 2025, in Nigeria football conversations.
What Makes Osimhen’s Case Strong
What unique things about Osimhen’s 2025 make people say Victor Osimhen best striker since Rashidi Yekini 2025? Let’s explore.
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Transfer Value & Market Recognition: The permanent move for a huge fee (record in Turkish football) shows that clubs believe in his potential and current ability.
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Scoring in Multiple Competitions: Not just for Nigeria, but for Galatasaray in league, cups, European competitions. Multifaceted.
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International Impact: He has performed in big qualifiers, pressured opposition, scored goals to help Nigeria stay on the right path in World Cup qualification.
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Physical & Psychological Attributes: Resilience, ability to play through pressure, ability to adapt (playing in Italy, Turkey, etc.), growth in positional awareness.
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Fans & Media Support: Nigeria football fandom is huge, fans expect big from strikers. Osimhen’s consistency builds loyalty, belief. When legends like Odegbami say “he can break Yekini’s record”, the opinion counts.
What It Would Take for Osimhen to Be Widely Seen as the Best Since Yekini
Even with many points for Osimhen, there are thresholds to cross to make the case undisputed. Here are what to watch.
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Break Yekini’s Goal Record: He’s at ~25 goals; Yekini had 37. Get to 37+, especially in competitive matches and big games, and he’ll have concrete proof.
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Perform in Big Finals / AFCON / World Cup: Scoring in final tournaments, being decisive in AFCON finals, and perhaps scoring in World Cup proper (not only qualifiers) will elevate legacy.
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Longevity at High Performance: Stay injury-free, maintain goal output over many seasons, keep club performance high.
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Leadership & Influence: Be captain, mentor younger players, bring Nigeria team together, perhaps carry team in difficult times. Yekini’s impact wasn’t only goals but emotional and symbolic.
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Memorable Moments: Moments that remain in public consciousness – perhaps first games, comeback matches, hat tricks in big matches. Memorable goals.
Verdict: Is He Nigeria’s Best Striker Since Rashidi Yekini?
After reviewing all evidence, using primary keyword Victor Osimhen best striker since Rashidi Yekini 2025, plus all stats, arguments and counterpoints, here’s my take:
Yes – Victor Osimhen is very plausibly Nigeria’s best striker since Rashidi Yekini, at least in terms of raw goal scoring, recent performance, breaking records, and being the standard by which others are measured in Nigeria football today.
But it’s not fully sealed yet. To reach Yekini’s legendary status, he’ll need to:
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Break the goal record,
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Perform in big tournaments and finals,
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Maintain consistency over years,
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Create legacy that fans remember not just for goals but for iconic moments.
So he is on track, maybe already there for many fans, but with space to cement that status completely.
ALSO READ: Super Falcons 2025: Can Nigeria’s queens of football bring home another trophy?
What Fans, Media, & Nigeria Football Should Do
To fully appreciate and help Osimhen reach that top echelon, here are things stakeholders should do:
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Media: Highlight his big moments; show comparisons honestly; avoid overhyping minor failures but also don’t undervalue his achievements.
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Coaching & Federation: Give him platform in big matches; ensure the team is built to support him; maintain tactics that allow him to shine.
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Fans: Support him not just when he scores, but also when he misses; celebrate progress; be patient for the legacy.
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Clubs: Maintain his physical condition; manage workload; avoid burnout.
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Nigeria Football Authorities: Use his rise to promote youth development (to find future strikers), invest in infrastructure and training that can develop attackers like Osimhen.
After all that, for wider context and connections to current trends, I recommend checking “Nigeria News and Gossip: The Untold Stories Shaping 2025” (https://www.naijascene.com/2025/09/nigeria-news-and-gossip-untold-stories.html) and also “Nigerian news and gossip: Latest Updates” (https://www.naijascene.com/2025/08/nigerian-news-and-gossip-latest-updates.html) to see how Osimhen fits in with broader narrative in Nigeria football, transfers, media, and fan culture.
Conclusion
So, in conclusion, Victor Osimhen best striker since Rashidi Yekini 2025 isn’t just a fan slogan — the evidence is strong. He has the numbers, the momentum, the records. But legends like Yekini set standards that go beyond goals: moments, emotion, legacy. And Osimhen still has space to build those layers.
Now I want to hear from you:
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You think Osimhen IS already better than everyone since Yekini, or you believe there’s still someone (or something) missing?
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Which moments of his career so far do you think compare best with Yekini’s most iconic ones?
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If you’re a fan, does Osimhen get enough credit in Nigeria football circles?
Drop your thoughts in the comments. Share this post with your friends who dey argue this debate at local joints, over akara and garri. Let’s see what the majority think. If you like, I can do a part two: Best Nigerian strikers of all time and where Osimhen will rank in 2030.
#VictorOsimhen #Yekini #NigeriaFootball #SuperEagles #BestStriker #Osimhen2025 #Afcon #Galatasaray #GoalKing #NaijaScene
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