In this article, Sports Buddy looks into the top 10 Green/Super Eagles all-time highest goal scorers in history
Nigeria, renowned as one of Africa’s premier footballing nations, boasts a rich reservoir of top-tier talent who have showcased their prowess while donning the iconic green and white of the national team.
Here’s a rundown of the top 10 Super Eagles legends who have left an indelible mark with their goal-scoring exploits.
Super Eagles and Green Eagles all-time highest goalscorers
10. Victor Obinna, Mudashiru Lawal and Nwankwo Kanu – 12 goals
Veteran Nigerian forwards Obinna Nsofor, Mudashiru Lawal, and the iconic Nwankwo Kanu all showcased their goal-scoring prowess for the Super Eagles, each tallying 12 goals during their illustrious careers with the national team.
Nsofor achieved this milestone in the fewest number of matches, netting 12 goals in just 48 appearances for the Super Eagles
Muda Lawal (late) graced the Nigerian national team from 1975 to 1985, exhibiting his exceptional skills as a midfielder. Over his tenure, Lawal contributed 12 goals in 86 appearances for the Super Eagles. Notably, his influential presence guided Nigeria to its inaugural African Nations Cup triumph in 1980, and he holds the distinction of representing his country in a record five African Nations Cup tournaments.
Another figure with 12 goals to his name is the legendary Kanu Nwankwo, a recipient of the African Footballer of the Year award twice over the course of his illustrious career. Renowned for his exceptional skills and technical finesse, the towering forward achieved this feat in 87 appearances for the Super Eagles.
9. Daniel Amokachi and Kelechi Iheanacho – 13 goals
Daniel Amokachi proved to be a formidable force for the Super Eagles, finding the back of the net 13 times in a mere 44 appearances for the national team. His impressive goal-scoring record includes a memorable strike during the 1994 World Cup.
Kelechi Iheanacho has demonstrated his prowess as a key striker for the Super Eagles by amassing an impressive tally of 13 goals in just 43 appearances, establishing himself as a vital asset for the national team. At just 27 years old, he is poised to surpass this tally in the near future, provided he remains free from injuries.
8. Julius Aghahowa and Jay Jay Okocha – 14 goals
Julius Aghahowa, regarded as one of the best strikers to have don the Super Eagles jersey, shares the record of 14 goals with Jay Jay Okocha. However, he accomplished this in fewer matches than Okocha.
The retired forward, known for his remarkable goals, notably scored against Sweden in the 2002 World Cup and in the Nations Cup. It took him 32 games to secure a spot in Nigeria’s top ten list of leading scorers.
Regarded as one Nigeria’s greatest players, Okocha, scored 14 goals during his tenure with the Super Eagles, requiring 75 appearances to reach this milestone. Notably, seven of his 13 goals were scored during AFCON tournaments. Renowned for his mesmerizing dribbling and skillful play, Okocha also netted memorable goals, such as his exquisite free kick against Cameroon in the 2004 AFCON.
7. Samson Siasia, Odion Ighalo and Ahmed Musa – 16 goals
Samson Siasia, renowned as a Super Eagles legend, transitioned to a prominent coaching role for the national team, but his playing career was equally remarkable.
As a striker, he scored 16 goals in 51 appearances for the Super Eagles between 1984 and 1999, when he retired from playing. This achievement positioned him as joint seventh on the Top 10 list of Super Eagles all-time highest goal scorers.
Ahmed Musa, the current captain of the Super Eagles, holds a revered status in Nigerian football. Not only is he the most capped player for the Super Eagles, but he also shares the seventh position on the list of all-time highest goal scorers for the national team. Since his debut in 2010, the 31-year-old winger has netted 16 goals in 107 games. With plenty of time ahead, Musa still has the opportunity to further augment his impressive goal tally.
Al Hilal striker Odion Ighalo, shares the distinction of being one of three players tied on 16 goals for the Super Eagles. Remarkably, he achieved this feat in 70 fewer games than Ahmed Musa.
Ighalo’s prowess places him among the Super Eagles’ all-time highest goal scorers, with 16 goals in just 37 appearances since his debut in 2015. Despite not officially retiring from the Nigerian football team, his impressive record suggests that there may be more to come from him in the future.
6. Sunday Oyarekhua – 17 goals
Sunday Oyarekhua, a relatively unknown figure in Nigerian football, scored an impressive 17 goals in 28 appearances for the national team, then known as the “Green Eagles,” between 1971 and 1976. Despite his lack of widespread recognition, his colleagues, former teammates, and a small group of fans have made efforts to highlight his exceptional skill and prowess on the field.
Oyarekhua retired from the Nigerian national team in 1976, holding the title of the Super Eagles’ all-time leading goal scorer until Segun Odegbami surpassed his record.
5. Obafemi Martins – 18 goals
Obafemi Martins, widely regarded as one of the finest strikers to have donned the Super Eagles jersey, solidifies his status with impressive numbers, placing him fifth among Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorers.
Known affectionately as ‘Obagoal,’ the former Inter Milan striker recorded 18 goals in 48 appearances for the national team between 2004 and 2015. Renowned for his exceptional pace, mobility, and athleticism, Martins’ attributes were instrumental in defining his illustrious career.
4. Ikechukwu Uche – 19 goals
Uche netted 19 goals in 46 appearances for the Super Eagles between 2007 and 2015 before announcing his retirement from international football.
3. Victor Osimhen and Yakubu Aiyegbeni – 21 goals
Victor Osimhen, regarded as Nigeria’s biggest export in today’s football, is widely considered as the leading contender to surpass the legendary Rashidi Yekini as Nigeria’s all-time top scorer.
With an impressive record of 21 goals in just 35 games for the Super Eagles, as per Transfer Market, including his recent goal at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, Osimhen is only 16 goals behind Yekini. At just 25 years old, Osimhen has his entire career ahead of him, and his rapid progress suggests that he is poised to climb up this list in the near future.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni’s legacy is often overshadowed by his infamous open goal miss against South Korea at the 2010 World Cup, but he remains one of the Super Eagles’ top scorers in history, sharing the joint-third position. Known as a certified goal machine and ice-cold finisher (except for that one time), Yakubu netted an impressive 21 goals in 57 appearances for Nigeria between 2000 and 2012.
2. Segun Odegbami – 23 goals
Regarded by many as the inaugural superstar of Nigerian football, Segun Odegbami was not only prolific but also a joy to watch.
Nicknamed ‘Mathematical,’ Odegbami amassed 23 goals in just 46 appearances for the Nigerian national team, achieving this feat within a comparatively shorter timeframe than the other top-ten scorers. His illustrious national team career spanned from 1976 to 1982.
1. Rashidi Yekini – 37 goals
The late, esteemed Rashidi Yekini holds an indisputable position as Nigeria’s all-time leading top scorer for the Super Eagles. With an unmatched tally of 37 goals, he surpasses all others by a significant margin, at least 14 goals ahead of any other player. Many believe that Yekini’s record will endure, firmly placing him atop the list of Super Eagles’ all-time highest goal scorers.
Yekini’s remarkable achievement includes scoring 37 goals in 58 games, boasting an impressive ratio of 0.63 goals per game. Since his retirement from the Nigerian national team in 1998, after debuting in 1984, Yekini’s legacy sets the standard that every Nigerian footballer aspires to emulate.
