As the football world celebrates what would have been Rashidi Yekini’s 62nd birthday, a Nigerian journalist has sparked a fresh conversation about the legacy of Nigeria’s all-time top scorer and how Victor Osimhen compares to him, Footynaija.com reports.
Yekini, who scored 37 goals in 62 matches for the Super Eagles, remains a legendary name in African football. His powerful runs, sharp instincts, and emotional celebration at the 1994 World Cup are forever etched in Nigeria’s history.
In contrast, Osimhen, who now leads the attack for both the Super Eagles and Galatasaray, continues to chase that record with determination and energy.
The 26-year-old striker has been in fine form for both club and country, scoring consistently in Nigeria’s 2026 World Cup qualifying campaign. Many fans and pundits see him as the natural heir to Yekini’s goalscoring throne, given his hunger, work rate, and ability to deliver in big moments.
However, according to respected journalist Osasu Obayiuwana, there remains one major difference between the two greats. In a post on X, the journalist wrote that Osimhen possesses all the qualities of Yekini, but lacks the kind of world-class support that once surrounded the late striker.
“[Victor Osimhen] has all the qualities of Rashidi Yekini, despite being physically smaller. Yekini was HUGE and a speeding Exocet missile,” Obayiuwana posted on X.
“What Yekini had, which Osimhen doesn’t, are the likes of [Sunday Oliseh], [Jay-Jay Okocha] and [Amokachi The Bull] as his world-class support cast. When will Osimhen have such a supporting cast in the [SuperEagles]?” he added.
Yekini played in a generation packed with creative talents such as Austin Okocha, Sunday Oliseh, and Daniel Amokachi. These were players known for their passing vision, attacking drive, and understanding of space.
Their chemistry often made Yekini’s job easier, as he thrived on the quality of service and quick transitions from midfield.
Osimhen, on the other hand, operates in a modern Super Eagles team still trying to find the perfect attacking rhythm. While he has support from players like Ademola Lookman, Samuel Chukwueze, and Alex Iwobi, the current squad has yet to consistently produce the kind of link-up play that made Yekini’s era so productive.
