Osimhen Surpasses Odegbami In Nigeria’s All Time Scorers List

…Chille Begins Job On Winning Note

Nigeria Super Ea­gles crossed first of their six hurdles in the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifier follow­ing their 2-0 defeat of Rwan­da in Kigali on Friday.

The win, the first in the World Cup qualifying tour­nament, having drew three and lost one, has brought Nigeria’s quest for spot in the tournament back on track.

But the Super Eagles must win their remaining five qualifying games, start­ing with the game against Zimbabwe in Uyo on Tues­day. Zimbabwe held Benin Republic into a 2-2 game in Harare on Thursday. A draw against Rwanda or a loss would have ended hopes of qualifying for the World Cup.

Winning their remaining five games is the only chance left for Nigeria to upstage South Africa on 10 points, Benin Republic on eight points and Rwanda on seven.

The Super Eagles were under intense pressure to claim all three points in Ki­gali sitting fifth in Group C – five points off the automat­ic qualification spot – after failing to win any of their first four games. Also, Nige­ria has not scored in Rwan­da, making the tie a delicate one. In their last meeting in Nigeria, Rwanda beat Nige­ria 2-1 in Uyo.

However, Victor Osim­hen started the victory song in the 10th minute when he jabbed in a free kick by Ade­mola Lookman. He doubled the team lead in the second of the three minutes of add­ed time in the first half. Sam­uel Chukwueze passed the ball forward but Osimhen beat the last man of defence just after the centre circle.

Before Osimhen’s sec­ond, William Troost-Ekong should have done better when picked out twice by Lookman at corners, whilst Rwanda goalkeeper Fiacre Ntwari made a brilliant fin­ger-tip save to deny Moses Simon in the 25th minute of the game.

With his brace on Friday, Osimhen has leapfrog leg­endary striker Segun Odeg­bami on Nigeria’s all-time goal scorers chart with his two goals. With the goals, Osimhen has surpassed Odegbami’s record of 23 and moved to the second spot with 25 goals in Nigeria’s chart, and he is now chas­ing the late Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37 goals.

In other group C games, South Africa beat Lesotho 2-0 to move to the top of the group with 10 points while Benin Republic’s 2-2 game against Zimbabwe in Hara­re has placed them in sec­ond spot with eight points. Despite the loss, Rwanda are third with seven points while Nigeria with six points is fourth on the table. Leso­tho is fifth with five points with Zimbabwe placed sixth with three points.

https://independent.ng/2026-wcup-qualififier-super-eagles-cross-first-of-six-hurdles/