Osimhen Hopes To Emulate Pacesetter Yekini
Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen says late Nigerian talismanic striker Rashidi Yekini motivates him to also achieve with the men’s senior national team.
The Napoli striker is playing his second Arica Cup of Nations tournament for Nigeria in Ivory Coast as the Eagles hope to win the title for a fourth time.
In terms of achievements for the national team, Osimhen will be hoping to win the AFCON for Nigeria just like Yekini did in 1994.
The 25-year-old striker is 16 goals behind Yekini on the all-time Nigerian goal scorers chart. Osimhen, with 21 goals, is joint-third with former striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni.
On the sidelines of the tournament in Ivory Coast, Osimhen, who is widely regarded as Yekini’s successor, admitted he hoped to reach the level of Yekini in the history of Nigerian football.
“Yekini is the most influential striker the Super Eagles has ever had,” Osimhen told newsmen.
“He inspired a lot of us that have come through the ranks. He inspired us to be the goal machine that he has been. He is the pacesetter and what he has done for the Super Eagles is unimaginable. I hope that I am able to reach there.
“I want to win something with this great squad. I want to give Nigerians something that they will remember. I’m giving everything to come home with the trophy,” the striker added.
Nigeria are through to the last 16 of the ongoing AFCON and have a date with arch rivals Cameroon on Saturday at the Felix Houphouet Boigny Stadium, Abidjan.
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