Iheanacho Remains Nigeria’s FA Cup Goal King in England
As the FA Cup fifth round takes centre stage in England this weekend, Nigerian players are once again in the spotlight. Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze remain in contention for silverware, hoping to add their names to a proud tradition while Tolu Arokodare crashed out with Wolves after the defeat to Liverpool at the Molineux on Friday night.
That tradition is defined by nine Nigerian footballers who have scored at least four goals in the competition, carving their place in history.
At the top of that list stands Kelechi Iheanacho, Nigeria’s most prolific FA Cup scorer who has netted an astonishing 25 goals in 18 matches across nine seasons, a record unmatched by any of his compatriots.
His defining campaign came in 2020/21, when he scored four goals in six games to drive Leicester City to their first‑ever FA Cup triumph.
Iheanacho struck the winner against Brighton in the fifth round, then delivered a brace and an assist in the 3–1 quarterfinal victory over Manchester United at the King Power Stadium.
In the semi‑final, he scored the only goal against Southampton to send Leicester to Wembley. Although Youri Tielemans’ thunderbolt sealed the 1–0 win over Chelsea in the final, Iheanacho’s goals were the backbone of Leicester’s historic run.
Other Nigerians have also left their mark. Yakubu Aiyegbeni netted 12 goals in 26 matches across eight seasons, underlining his reputation as a ruthless finisher.
Nwankwo Kanu, with eight goals in 30 matches across 13 seasons, famously scored the only goal of the 2008 FA Cup final at Wembley, when Portsmouth defeated Cardiff City.
That strike added to his earlier triumphs with Arsenal, making him one of the few Nigerians to win the trophy with multiple clubs.
Victor Moses contributed five goals in 28 matches across 12 seasons, while Dele Adebola matched that tally in 27 matches across 14 seasons. Kayode Odejayi also scored five, though it took him 35 matches across 14 seasons, showing persistence more than prolificacy.
Odion Ighalo, in contrast, scored five goals in just 10 matches across five seasons, highlighting his sharpness in limited opportunities.
Victor Anichebe chipped in with four goals in 21 matches across nine seasons, while Danny Shittu, a centre‑back, remarkably scored four in 14 matches across 10 seasons, proving that Nigerian defenders too have left their mark on the competition.
