Osimhen will do it — Ex-Rangers star backs Galatasaray forward to surpass Yekini

Super Eagles striker Cyriel Dessers has expressed his confidence that teammate Victor Osimhen will break Rashidi Yekini's long-standing goalscoring record for Nigeria.

Osimhen is currently just six goals shy of Yekini's all-time high of 37 goals for the national team. The Galatasaray star has found the net 31 times in 45 appearances for the three-time African champions, and is still only 26.

Dessers made his prediction during a "winner-stays-on" style game where he was asked to choose the most impactful player in Nigeria's history.

After selecting Nwankwo Kanu over Ahmed Musa, he then pitted Kanu against the legendary Yekini, with the 1994 AFCON winner coming out on top. In the final comparison between Yekini and Osimhen, Dessers backed his contemporary.

"I think Victor will top it in the future, so I'll say Victor," the Rangers forward stated. "But that's a nice list, an unbelievable list."

While Osimhen is on the verge of breaking the goal record, the debate over who has the greater legacy is more complex.

Yekini was a pivotal figure for the Super Eagles, scoring Nigeria's first-ever goal at a FIFA World Cup in 1994 and leading the team to glory in the Africa Cup of Nations that same year.

In contrast, Osimhen's international career has seen its share of disappointments, including the team's failure to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and a runner-up finish at the most recent AFCON.

However, his club career, highlighted by a historic Serie A title with Napoli, and further success with Galatasary, has been immensely successful.

As he closes in on the goalscoring milestone, the discussion about his place among Nigeria's all-time greats will only intensify.