'I never go to bed thinking about Yekini' - Victor Osimhen sets record straight

Super Eagles player Victor Osimhen has offered a refreshingly honest take on the weight of expectation that comes with being mentioned in the same breath as Rashidi Yekini, declaring he doesn't spend sleepless nights obsessing over Nigeria's all-time scoring record.

The Galatasaray striker, who captained the Super Eagles to a 3-1 victory over Uganda on Tuesday, was asked about inching closer to Yekini's legendary 37-goal haul for the national team. His answer was disarmingly honest.

"To be honest, I never go to bed one day and thought about, you know, trying to equal the record or trying to surpass it," Osimhen said after the match. 

"So for me, I'm just doing what I can do for my team, fighting for them, trying to get goals, trying to get assists."

It was a revealing moment from a player who's spent much of his career shouldering the burden of being Nigeria's next great hope. 

The comparisons to Yekini, the iconic striker who remains the nation's top scorer nearly three decades after his peak, have followed Osimhen relentlessly. 

But rather than letting the pressure consume him, he's chosen to tune it out.

"Hopefully maybe not in this AFCON, maybe not in qualifiers, but I know one day I'm gonna get there," he added with quiet confidence.

Osimhen currently sits on 32 goals for Nigeria, five shy of Yekini's mark. At 27 years old and with years of international football ahead of him, the record is well within reach, but Tuesday's blank against Uganda served as a reminder that football doesn't care about narratives or timelines.

Despite wearing the captain's armband and leading brilliantly, Osimhen couldn't find the back of the net in Fes. Paul Onuachu and Raphael Onyedika (twice) did the damage instead, with the latter stealing the spotlight in his first appearance of the tournament.

For some strikers, a goalless outing while captaining your country might spark frustration or self-doubt. Not Osimhen. 

His post-match comments suggest a player at peace with his role, understanding that leadership, assist play, and creating space for teammates matter just as much as personal glory.

The Super Eagles are now through to the Round of 16 with a perfect record, nine points from nine, and goals flowing from all areas of the pitch. 

Whether Osimhen scores or not, Nigeria are winning and right now, that's all that matters to him.

The Yekini record will come. Maybe at this AFCON, maybe in the qualifiers, maybe somewhere down the line. But Victor Osimhen isn't losing sleep over it.

He's too busy leading his country toward something bigger - winning a fourth AFCON title.