Nigeria forward Victor Osimhen has moved into second place in the all-time Nigerian goalscoring chart after coming off the bench to score in the Super Eagles’ 2025 AFCON qualifier against Benin on Saturday.
Osimhen, who was at the heart of multiple transfer sagas with his club (Napoli), was omitted from the Italian side’s squad for the 2024-25 season.
The Napoli outcast then agreed a loan move with Turkish outfit Galatasaray until the end of the season, although there is a break clause option in his contract, which will see the forward be given permission to leave the club in January if a team matches Napoli’s valuation of him.
The ongoing feud between the club and Osimhen meant the Nigerian was yet to feature in a competitive game since May 26.
However, six minutes into replacing Victor Boniface, Osimhen volleyed home a Wilfred Ndidi cross to extend Nigeria’s lead to 2-0 over Benin, before Ademola Lookman sealed the victory seven minutes from time.
The 78th minute finish sees Osimhen draw level with Segun Odegbami in second place on 22 goals for the Super Eagles, moving one clear of Yakubu Anyebeni and 15 behind Rashidi Yekini’s record.
Osimhen will look to further close in on Yekini’s 37 goal haul when Nigeria face Rwanda on Tuesday in the second qualifying group game.
By Andrews Sefa Bamfo
The post 2025 AFCON qualifiers: Victor Osimhen closing in on goalscoring record first appeared on 3News.
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