Osimhen Chases AFCON 2025 Golden Boot and Nigerian Records
Victor Osimhen has one more chance to carve his name into African football history when Nigeria face Egypt in the Africa Cup of Nations third-place playoff in Morocco.
While the Super Eagles will not leave as champions, their talismanic striker could still emerge as one of the nation’s most decorated record holders.
The 27-year-old has been Nigeria’s global football poster boy since his breakthrough at Napoli, fulfilling the promise he first showed nearly 11 years ago at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.
His 10 goals at that tournament not only earned him the Golden Boot but also propelled Nigeria to the title.
At AFCON 2025, the Galatasaray forward now has the opportunity to become the seventh Nigerian to finish as top scorer at a single edition of the competition, joining legends Rashidi Yekini, Segun Odegbami, Julius Aghahowa, Odion Ighalo, Austin Okocha and Emmanuel Emenike.
He currently sits second in the scoring charts with four goals, one behind Morocco’s Ibrahim Diaz. A goal on Saturday would see him finish level, while overtaking Diaz would make him the Nigerian with the most goals in a single AFCON tournament.
Across two editions, Osimhen has already recorded five goals and five assists, giving him 10 goal contributions. He needs five more to equal Yekini’s record as Nigeria’s all-time leader in AFCON goal involvements.
Beyond the continental stage, Osimhen also has the chance to climb Nigeria’s all-time scoring charts, with the possibility of finishing as either joint or outright top scorer in the nation’s history.
For a player who has carried the weight of expectation since his teenage years, Saturday’s bronze-medal clash is more than a consolation, it is a chance to add another chapter to his growing legacy.
