Top 10 highest goalscorers for Nigeria national football team

The list includes some of the most iconic players from Africa.

Nigeria is one of the many African countries that produces fabulous footballers. The country's history in football has seen it produce magnificent players for every position. Even in modern times, players like Ahmed Musa, Victor Osimhen and Alex Iwobi represent the Super Eagles with pride in international tournaments such as the African Cup of Nations (AFCON).

Nigeria has always produced sensational attacking players with an insatiable hunger to score goals. Historically, Nigerian players who are legends of the game like Jay Jay Okocha have entertained the world with their skills and ability to find the back of the net.

Many players from the country have represented the national team in major international tournaments and scored a lot of goals. Keeping the focus on the exciting players it has produced, here is a look at the top 10 leading goalscorers for the Nigerian national football team:

10. Victor Osimhen - 15 goals

Victor Osimhen is one of the most valuable strikers from Nigeria at the moment. He is valued at €65.00m and plays for Napoli in the Italian Serie A.

He has 15 goals for the national team in merely 22 appearances. Out of 15 strikes, 10 have come in AFCON Qualifiers, while four goals came in the World Cup Qualifiers. 

9. Ahmed Musa - 16 goals

Ahmed Musa has played a whopping 107 matches for the Nigerian national team which is a record. He has 16 goals during that time for the national team.

He is the current skipper of the Super Eagles. The winger plays for Karagümrük in Turkey. He scored two goals at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in a 2-3 loss to Argentina.

8. Odion Ighalo - 16 goals 

Odion Ighalo is one of the most popular footballers from Nigeria. He became an instant hero back home after signing for Manchester United in 2020.

The 33-year-old currently plays for Al-Hilal in Saudi Arabia. He has 16 goals in 37 appearances for the Super Eagles and the forward has featured in both the AFCON and the FIFA World Cup.

7. Samson Siasia - 16 goals

Samson Siasia is a former Nigerian international player who is currently retired as a professional. He scored 16 goals in 51 caps for the national team.

He was a French Ligue 1 winner with Nantes and also won the AFCON with Nigeria in 1994. The forward also has a goal at the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

6. Sunday Oyarekhua - 17 goals

Sunday Oyarekhua is next on the list with 17 goals for the Nigerian national team. His 17 goals were scored in merely 28 appearances. A policeman during his time off the football pitch, the forward featured for the Super Eagles at the 1976 AFCON. 

5. Obafemi Martins - 18 goals

One of the quickest footballers of his generation, Obafemi Martins became very popular after signing for Newcastle United from Inter Milan in 2006.

The 37-year-old retired as a professional in 2021. As for the national team, he made 48 appearances and scored 18 goals. Out of them, 10 goals came in the 2006 WC Qualifiers in 12 outings.

4. Ikechukwu Uche - 19 goals

Ikechukwu Uche played 46 times for the Nigerian national team and found the back of the net 19 times. He played for teams like Villarreal, Real Zaragoza and Malaga among others in Spain. He scored seven of his goals in the AFCON Qualifiers and five in WC Qualifiers for the Super Eagles. 

3. Yakubu Aiyegbeni - 21 goals

Yakubu Aiyegbeni was a very popular figure during his time in England. He played for teams like Middlesbrough, Everton, Portsmouth, Leicester and Blackburn.

The striker was exceptional for the Nigerian national team where he scored 21 goals in 57 appearances. He was part of the squad that went for the 2010 World Cup and also scored a goal for the team.

2. Segun Odegbami - 23 goals

Segun Odegbami is the second-highest goalscorer in the history of the Nigerian national football team. He got 23 goals in 46 appearances, with an average of 0.50 goals per match. He retired in 1984 and played for Shooting Stars in Nigeria. 

1. Rashidi Yekini - 37 goals

Rashidi Yekini is the all-time leading goalscorer for the Nigerian national football team. He is the only individual to score more than 30 times, netting 37 goals for the Super Eagles.

The striker was part of the national team from 1984 to 1998. Helping Nigeria win the 1994 AFCON was one of his major career highs. The African Footballer of the Year in 1993, he was the top scorer with five goals at the 1994 AFCON.