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By Oscar Okhifo
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has brushed aside comparison with late Nigerian legend Rashidi Yekini, saying he is not under pressure to break the country’s all-time scoring record.
Osimhen, who captained Nigeria to a 3-1 win over Uganda on Tuesday, said he remains unfazed by talk of overtaking Yekini’s record, stressing that such discussions do not influence his mindset or approach to games.
“To be honest, I never go to bed thinking about trying to equal or surpass the record,” the Galatasaray forward said.
He said his main concern is making meaningful contributions to the team, whether through goals, assists or tireless work on the pitch, rather than pursuing personal achievements.
Osimhen noted that records will eventually be broken in the natural course of the game, but insisted this should not come at the cost of team harmony, objectives or the joy of playing football.
The 27-year-old striker has scored 31 goals for Nigeria, leaving him six shy of Yekini’s long-standing national record, and has found the net just once in three matches at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Although he failed to score against Uganda, Osimhen led by example as Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika, who struck twice, ensured the Super Eagles secured all three points.
Nigeria ended the group stage with a perfect nine points from three matches, finishing top of Group C and booking a confident place in the Round of 16.
Osimhen said his focus remains firmly on leadership, teamwork and winning matches, adding that personal glory means little compared to collective success.
The former Napoli forward stressed that his ultimate goal is to help Nigeria secure a fourth AFCON title in Morocco, having previously lifted the trophy in 1980 as the Green Eagles and later in 1994 and 2013 as the Super Eagles.
The World Cup has slipped away from the super eagles, bringing home the AFCON cup would sure send Nigerians to the seventh Heaven.