Osimhen Nears Yekini Record as Iwobi, Simon Equal Mikel, Kanu Caps

Victor Osimhen moved six goals closer to Rashidi Yekini’s all-time Super Eagles scoring record, while Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon reached significant appearance milestones as Nigeria defeated Gabon 4-1 in the 2026 World Cup playoffs on Thursday night.

Osimhen’s brace in extra time at the Moulay Hassan Stadium in Rabat took his tally to 31 goals for Nigeria, leaving him just six shy of Yekini’s iconic record of 37 goals that has stood since the early 1990s.

The Galatasaray striker proved his worth under pressure after the game was deadlocked at 1-1 following regulation time. He scored with a sharp-angled finish in the 102nd minute after Chidera Ejuke had restored Nigeria’s lead, before calmly slotting home in the 110th minute to seal the victory.

Osimhen’s 31 goals for Nigeria have come against 12 different opponents, with his most prolific performances being seven goals against Sao Tome and five against Benin. At just 26 years old, the striker has been tipped to surpass Yekini’s record if he maintains his current goalscoring form for the national team.

Meanwhile, Iwobi reached another significant milestone during the match, claiming his 90th cap for the Super Eagles. The versatile Fulham midfielder now sits joint fourth on the list of Super Eagles players with the most caps, alongside John Obi Mikel.

The 29-year-old, who represented England at the youth level, switched allegiance to Nigeria in 2015 and made his senior debut in a friendly against the Democratic Republic of Congo in October of the same year.

An Arsenal Academy graduate, Iwobi has been part of some of Nigeria’s most memorable campaigns in recent years. He played in all matches as the Super Eagles finished third at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and was also ever-present as Nigeria claimed second place at the AFCON 2023 finals in Ivory Coast.

Simon also joined Iwobi and Mikel in the appearance stakes, earning his 86th cap against Gabon to draw level with former Super Eagles stars Nwankwo Kanu and Muda Lawal.

The Paris FC winger made his debut for Nigeria on March 25, 2015, in an international friendly against Uganda, when he replaced Anthony Ujah after 59 minutes.

He has scored 10 goals for Nigeria and was part of the squad that finished as runners-up at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. Simon was also a member of the team that won the Unity Cup in 2025 and has been honoured as a Member of the Order of the Niger.

The current list of Super Eagles players with the most caps has Ahmed Musa (111), Vincent Enyeama (101), Joseph Yobo (100) leading the pack, before Iwobi and the rest follow.

Nigeria will face DR Congo in the CAF World Cup playoff final on Sunday, November 16. The Leopards defeated Cameroon 1-0 in the second semi-final at the Stade El Barid in Rabat, thanks to a late winner by Captain Chancel Mbemba in the first minute of stoppage time.

The winners of the continental playoff final will progress to a six-team intercontinental qualifier, which will be held in Mexico by March 2026, and will determine the final two nations at next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico and the United States.