Top 10: Ranking Super Eagles’ greatest strikers – Where does Osimhen, Kanu, Yekini stand?

Scoring goals has always been one of the star attractions of the Super Eagles, Afrik-Foot reports.

From the early days of the Green Eagles to the modern generation led by Victor Osimhen, Nigeria have produced some of Africa’s finest centre-forwards. These strikers have delivered goals in Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournaments, at the FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games and on football’s biggest international stages.

While every generation has produced outstanding attackers, only a few have consistently changed games for Nigeria. Some became AFCON champions, others won individual awards, while a handful wrote their names into history with unforgettable goals that still live in the memories of Nigerian fans.

Based on international goals, influence, consistency, achievements and historical importance, here is a ranking of Nigeria’s 10 greatest centre-forwards.

Super Eagles’ greatest centre-forwards ranked

10. Sunday Oyarekhua

Before the Super Eagles became one of Africa’s football giants, Sunday Oyarekhua was already showing the country how to score goals. Playing for the Green Eagles between 1971 and 1976, he scored 17 goals in just 28 international appearances, one of the best scoring rates in Nigerian football history.

His greatest achievement came at the 1973 All-Africa Games in Lagos, where he finished as the tournament’s leading scorer. His goals inspired Nigeria to win the gold medal on home soil, giving the country one of its earliest major football successes. At a time when African football had limited international exposure, Oyarekhua established himself as one of the continent’s most feared strikers.

9. Samson Siasia

Samson Siasia combined intelligence with excellent movement inside the penalty area. Between 1984 and 1999, he scored 16 goals in 51 appearances for Nigeria.

One of his finest moments came at the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States when he scored Nigeria’s opening goal against Argentina in a thrilling group-stage match. Earlier that year, Siasia was part of the Super Eagles squad that won the 1994 AFCON in Tunisia, ending Nigeria’s 14-year wait for a continental title. His ability to play both as a main striker and supporting forward made him a valuable member of one of Nigeria’s greatest teams.

8. Ikechukwu Uche

Ikechukwu Uche brought creativity and clever movement to the Super Eagles attack. Between 2007 and 2014, he scored 19 goals in 46 matches.

Although injuries interrupted parts of his international career, Uche remained one of Nigeria’s most reliable finishers whenever he was available. He played an important role during Nigeria’s successful qualification campaign before helping strengthen the squad that won the 2013 AFCON in South Africa. His technical ability and sharp finishing allowed him to score from difficult positions, making him an important attacking option.

7. Odion Ighalo

Odion Ighalo enjoyed one of the finest individual tournaments ever by a Nigerian striker at the 2019 AFCON in Egypt. The forward scored five goals to finish as the competition’s Golden Boot winner, with Nigeria claiming the bronze medal.

Across his international career from 2015 to 2022, Ighalo scored 16 goals in only 37 appearances. He also played a huge role during Nigeria’s qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, scoring important goals that helped the Super Eagles finish ahead of Cameroon, Algeria and Zambia in a difficult qualifying group.

6. Obafemi Martins

Obafemi Martins thrilled Nigerian fans with his explosive speed and powerful left foot. Nicknamed “Obagoal,” he scored 18 goals in 48 appearances between 2004 and 2015.

Martins became famous for his spectacular backflip celebrations after scoring. He delivered several important goals in AFCON and FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns and often rescued Nigeria in difficult matches with his pace and long-range shooting. His exciting style made him one of the country’s most entertaining forwards.

5. Daniel Amokachi

Daniel Amokachi earned the nickname “The Bull” because of his strength and fearless style of play. He scored 13 goals in 44 appearances between 1990 and 1999.

Amokachi formed a deadly partnership with Rashidi Yekini during Nigeria’s golden generation. He helped Nigeria win the 1994 AFCON title and later played a key role in the country’s historic men’s football gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. He also scored memorable goals at both the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cups, proving he could perform on football’s biggest stage.

4. Yakubu Aiyegbeni

Yakubu Aiyegbeni became one of Nigeria’s most dependable strikers during the 2000s. Between 2000 and 2012, he scored 21 goals in 57 matches for the Super Eagles.

Known simply as “The Yak,” he used his strength, calm finishing and ability to shield the ball to trouble defenders across Africa. He scored consistently during AFCON tournaments and qualification campaigns, finishing among Nigeria’s highest international goalscorers. He is Nigeria’s most prolific goalscorer and the fourth highest African goalscorer in the history of the English Premier League with 95 goals.

3. Nwankwo Kanu

Nwankwo Kanu was different from most centre-forwards. Instead of relying on pace, he used extraordinary technique, vision and intelligence to create and score goals.

Although he scored only 12 goals in a record 86 appearances between 1994 and 2011, Kanu’s influence went far beyond statistics. He captained Nigeria to the unforgettable men’s football gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games after dramatic victories over Brazil and Argentina. He also won the 1994 AFCON and was named CAF African Footballer of the Year twice, in 1996 and 1999. His leadership and creativity made him one of Africa’s greatest footballers.

2. Victor Osimhen

Victor Osimhen has rapidly climbed Nigeria’s all-time scoring chart. Since making his senior debut in 2017, he has scored 29 goals in 44 appearances for the Super Eagles as of July 2026.

The striker became Africa’s best player after winning the 2023 CAF African Footballer of the Year award following his historic Serie A title-winning season with Napoli. For Nigeria, he has scored decisive goals in AFCON qualifiers, FIFA World Cup qualifiers and international friendlies. His pace, aerial strength, relentless pressing and clinical finishing have made him the leader of the current Super Eagles attack. At just 27 years old, Osimhen remains the player most likely to challenge Rashidi Yekini’s long-standing scoring record.

1. Rashidi Yekini

No striker has had a greater impact on Nigerian football than Rashidi Yekini. Between 1984 and 1998, he scored an incredible 37 goals in just 58 appearances, a record that still stands.

Yekini reached his peak during Nigeria’s unforgettable 1994 campaign. He finished as the top scorer at the AFCON in Tunisia, winning the Golden Boot as the Super Eagles lifted their second continental title. A few months later at the FIFA World Cup in the United States, he scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal against Bulgaria before celebrating by holding the back of the net, one of the most iconic moments in African football history.

His achievements also included winning the 1993 CAF African Footballer of the Year award, becoming the first Nigerian to receive the honour. Powerful, fearless and deadly inside the penalty area, Yekini inspired an entire generation and remains the benchmark against which every Nigerian striker is measured.