Super Eagles legend Mutiu Adepoju has stated that he sees no reason to compare Victor Osimhen to Rashidi Yekini, according to a report
Yekini was undeniably Nigeria’s best striker in the 90s. He established his legend quite early as he scored the Super Eagles’ first-ever goal at the World Cup.
In fact, he was an icon of Nigerian football. His career spanned 14 years, and he recorded 37 goals in 67 appearances- the record-highest in Super Eagles history.
However, Victor Osimhen, who burst onto the scene at the Under-17 FIFA World Cup in 2017 is threatening to surpass Yekini’s records. The Napoli star has already won the CAF Player of the Year award and has significant success with Napoli, helping them claim the Scudetto last year.
For the national team, Osimhen has been remarkable, scoring 21 goals in 35 appearances. Following Osimhen’s impressive performances, he likened to Yekini.
However, former Nigeria international Adepoju, who played with Yekini believes there is no need to compare him with Osimhen because they are not in the same generation.
“The way Osimhen plays now, he has that energy and will-power, and that is what has gotten him to where he is,” Adepoju told Elegbete TV.
“But there is no room to compare Osimhen and Yekini because these are two different times. Osimhen is doing very well, and with way he is now, probably he will surpass the goals that Rashidi scored, let’s not hide it.
“He is still very young, he has achieved a lot, he has scored certain goals, and he is still playing. He also has a lot of years ahead of him to overtake and score more than Yekini.
“But Yekini will always be Yekini, there’s not comparison. And Osimhen will always be Osimhen, he is good, and he will be there for so many years.”
At 25 years of age, Osimhen has the world at his feet. Barring the unforseen, he still has seven years of top-level football to deliver. He would likely surpass Yekini’s records with Nigeria and become the most successful Nigerian striker the country has produced.
Olaitan Ibrahim