Victor Osimhen has equaled Segun Odegbami’s long-standing scoring record for the Nigeria national team, netting his 23rd goal during a 1-1 draw against the Benin Republic in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match at Stade Félix Houphouët-Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
The Napoli forward, currently making waves in the Turkish Super Lig with Galatasaray, rose above a cluster of defenders to head home the equalizer in the 81st minute. This marks his 23rd goal in just 38 appearances for Nigeria since his debut in 2017, matching Odegbami’s tally, which he achieved in 47 matches between 1976 and 1981.
Odegbami, affectionately known as “Mathematical,” was renowned for his exceptional skill, speed, and precise crossing from the right wing. As a vital member of the Nigerian squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations on home ground in 1980, he famously scored in the final against Algeria.
Osimhen’s journey began at the U-17 and U-23 levels before he made his senior team debut in a 2-0 loss to South Africa on June 10, 2017. He scored his first international goal during the 2023 AFCON qualifiers against Sierra Leone and achieved his first senior hat-trick in a dominant 10-0 victory over São Tomé and Príncipe. The 25-year-old further solidified his status as a top scorer in the qualifiers, netting a second hat-trick in a 6-0 win against the same opponent on September 10, 2023, finishing the campaign with an impressive 10 goals.
