The Super Eagles’ 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying Group D game against the Benin Republic concluded 1-1 at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Ivory Coast on Thursday, but Victor Osimhen’s goal tied Segun Odegbami’s Nigerian scoring record of 23 goals.
On 81 minutes, the Napoli loanee, who has been a sensation in the Turkish Super Lig while wearing the Galatasaray colors, soared above a sea of Cheetahs defenders to nod home. This is his 23rd appearance in 38 games for Nigeria since his debut in 2017.
As a result, he equaled Segun Odegbami’s achievement, who scored the same number of goals in 47 games for Nigeria from 1976 to 1981.
Odegbami, who went by the nickname Mathematical, was well-known for his ability to play with the ball, his quickness, and the accuracy of his right-wing crosses. He scored in the final against Algeria in Lagos and was a vital part of the Nigerian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations title at home in 1980.
Before moving up to the senior squad, Osimhen played for Nigeria at the U-17 and U-23 levels. On June 10, 2017, he made his Super Eagles debut in a 2-0 loss to South Africa.
He scored three goals in a 10–0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe and scored his first goal against Sierra Leone in the 2023 AFCON qualification. For the Super Eagles, it was his first hat-trick as a senior international. The 25-year-old finished the 2023 AFCON qualifiers as the top scorer with 10 goals after scoring his second international hat-trick in Nigeria’s 6-0 victory over São Tomé and Principe in the rematch on September 10, 2023, at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium in Uyo.
