AFCON: Stricker Osimhen hits goal record

Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen hit major goal record in the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations round-of-16, win against Mozambique on Monday.

Nigeria thrashed the Mozambicans 4-0 at the Fez Stadium, thanks to other goals from Ademola Lookman and Akor Adams.

Osimhen scored in the 25th and 47th minutes to take his national team tally to 34 goals, three behind Yekini’s 37. He was however subbed off in the 63rd minute after a scuffle with Lookman.

The Galatasaray man tapped home from Adams’ assist in the first half and added the second with a similar finish at the start of the second half, courtesy of an assist from Lookman.

The Mozambique game also marked Osimhen’s 50th appearance for the national team.

Osimhen, 27, has been on an incredible run for Nigeria since March 2025, netting nine goals in 10 games.

Despite being close to the goal record, Osimhen has maintained that he is focused on powering Nigeria to a fourth AFCON title rather than breaking the record.

“To be honest, I don’t go to bed thinking about equalling or surpassing the record,” Osimhen told Ademola Victor TV in Morocco.

“I am just doing what I can for the team — fighting for the team, trying to get goals and assists. Hopefully, maybe not this AFCON, maybe not in the qualifiers, but I know one day I am going to get there.”

The Galatasaray striker has now scored three goals at the ongoing AFCON, placing him joint second in the tournament’s top scorer race behind Morocco’s Brahim Diaz. His compatriot Ademola Lookman, Algeria’s Riyad Mahrez, Morocco’s Ayoub El Kaabi and Mali’s Lassine Sinayoko also have three goals each.

Nigeria now awaits the winner of the Algeria vs DR Congo game in the quarter-finals on Saturday.