Who is Nigeria Top Scorer?

Football is a popular sport in Nigeria, and the country has produced some of the best footballers in the world. One of the most important aspects of the game is scoring goals. Goals are the ultimate measure of success, and the player who scores the most goals is celebrated as the top scorer. Nigeria has a rich history of football, and in this article, we will look at the top scorers in Nigerian football.

Rashidi Yekini

Rashidi Yekini is widely regarded as the greatest Nigerian striker of all time. He was born in Kaduna, Nigeria, in 1963 and began his football career in the Nigerian league with UNTL Kaduna. He later moved to Ivory Coast, where he played for Africa Sports before moving to Portugal to play for Vitória de Setúbal.

Yekini's breakthrough came when he joined Olympiacos in Greece, where he scored 20 goals in 26 appearances. He then moved to Spain to play for Sporting Gijón, where he scored 34 goals in 83 appearances. However, his most memorable moment came in the 1994 World Cup when he scored Nigeria's first-ever goal in the tournament in a 3-0 victory over Bulgaria. Yekini scored a total of 37 goals for the Nigerian national team, making him the country's all-time top scorer.

Segun Odegbami

Segun Odegbami is another legendary Nigerian striker. He was born in Lagos, Nigeria, in 1952 and began his football career with the Nigerian national team. Odegbami played for the Nigerian team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1980 and also played in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow.

Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu Aiyegbeni is one of the most prolific Nigerian strikers of all time. He was born in Benin City, Nigeria, in 1982 and began his football career in Nigeria with Julius Berger FC. He later moved to Israel to play for Maccabi Haifa, where he won two league titles.

Aiyegbeni is best known for his spells in the English Premier League, where he played for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers. He scored a total of 95 goals in 252 appearances in the Premier League, making him the second-highest Nigerian scorer in the league after Kanu.

Aiyegbeni scored 21 goals for the Nigerian national team, including a hat-trick against South Africa in the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations.

Nwankwo Kanu

Nwankwo Kanu, popularly known as Papilo, is one of the most iconic Nigerian footballers of all time. He was born in Owerri, Nigeria, in 1976 and began his football career with Iwuanyanwu Nationale. He later moved to Europe to play for Ajax, Inter Milan, and Arsenal.

Kanu is best known for his exploits with Arsenal, where he won two league titles and two FA Cups. He scored a total of 54 goals in 198 appearances for the Gunners, making him one of the most prolific Nigerian scorers in the Premier League.

Kanu scored a total of 13 goals for the Nigerian national team, including the winning goal in the 1996 Olympics final against Argentina. He was also a member of the Nigerian team that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1994 and 2014.

Ahmed Musa

Ahmed Musa is one of the most promising Nigerian strikers of the current generation. He was born in Jos, Nigeria, in 1992 and began his football career in Nigeria with JUTH FC. He later moved to Dutch side VVV-Venlo before joining Russian club CSKA Moscow.

Musa is best known for his exploits with CSKA Moscow, where he won three Russian Premier League titles and scored 61 goals in 180 appearances. He also had a brief spell in the English Premier League with Leicester City.

Musa is currently the third-highest Nigerian scorer in the Premier League, with 11 goals in 57 appearances. He has scored 15 goals for the Nigerian national team, including a brace against Iceland in the 2018 World Cup.

Final Thoughts

Nigeria has produced some of the greatest footballers in the world, and the country's top scorers are a testament to that fact. From Rashidi Yekini's heroics in the 1994 World Cup to Ahmed Musa's promising career, Nigerian football has been blessed with some exceptional strikers.

While these players have all made their mark on Nigerian football, there are many other talented players who have contributed to the country's success. As football continues to evolve, Nigeria will undoubtedly produce more top-class strikers who will continue to make the country proud.