Nigeria’s Super Eagles have been able to seal qualification for the 2022 African Cup of Nations billed to hold in January 2022 going into their last game of the qualifying rounds against Lesotho in Lagos.
In spite of the Super Eagles status as one of Africa’s giants, this was only the Super Eagles’ first time of securing consecutive appearances at the African Cup of Nations in more than a decade.
Nigeria are one of the most successful sides in the history of the competition, with three titles, the last of which came in 2013. A number of fans are betting on the football team to break their 8 year duck and win the cup.
In this article, we take a look at the five highest scorers from Nigeria in the history of the competition.
1) Rashidi Yekini
Nigeria’s undisputed goal king and greatest striker ever is unsurprisingly at the top of this list.
The Super Eagles legend passed away sadly in 2012. He scored 13 times for the Super Eagles over the span of four African Cup of Nations tournaments, winning the tournament’s Golden boot twice, and the Golden ball for the best player once.
He scored 1 goal in the 1988 edition of the tournament in Morocco, 3 in the 1990 edition in Algeria, 4 times in the 1992 edition in Guinea, and 5 times in the 1994 edition in Tunisia.
He emerged as top scorer in 1992 and 1994. His goals led the Super Eagles to a third place finish in 1992 and in 1994, they won the trophy and he was named the best player of the tournament.
2) Jay Jay Okocha
So good they named him twice, Okocha mesmerised and dazzled fans with his performances for the Super Eagles during his time with the national team. Okocha scored 7 goals for the Super Eagles, with all of his goals coming in just two editions of the African Cup of Nations.
He scored three times as the Super Eagles finished second in the 2000 edition of the competition that was co-hosted by Ghana and Nigeria, before scoring another four goals in the 2004 edition of the competition in Tunisia as the Super Eagles secured a bronze medal finish.
3) Julius Aghahowa
The striker was best known for his acrobatic goal celebrations whenever he found the back of the net. He scored 6 goals for the Super Eagles in his time with the national side.
His goals were split evenly over two editions of the tournament in 2000 and 2002, scoring 3 times in each of the editions.
4) Segun Odegbami
Mathematical Shege, as he was commonly known during his playing days scored 6 goals for the Super Eagles in two editions of the African Cup of Nations.
He scored 3 goals in the 1978 edition as the Super Eagles finished in third place, and scored another 3 as they won the competition in 1980. He was the highest goal scorer in the competition in the 1980 edition that was held in Nigeria.
5) Odion Ighalo
Ighalo scored 5 goals for the Super Eagles in his only appearance for the team in the 2019 edition of the African Cup of Nations held in Egypt.
He won the golden boot for the highest goal scorer in the competition as the Super Eagles secured a third place finish in the competition.
