Osimhen, who recently scored a brace in Nigeria’s 2-0 win over Rwanda during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, has now moved up to second place on Nigeria’s all-time goal-scoring list. With this achievement, Osimhen surpassed Odegbami’s 44-year-old record of 23 goals, now holding 25 goals for the national team.

Odegbami, known as ‘Mathematical’ for his precision on the field, acknowledged Osimhen’s natural goal-scoring ability and praised his reliability in front of goal. He emphasized that Osimhen’s focused, no-nonsense approach to finishing makes him a standout striker for the Super Eagles.

“Osimhen is a goal poacher, and he does what he does very well,” Odegbami said. “He’s not overly reliant on finesse or dribbling; instead, he’s always in the right position to finish chances. That’s what he’s great at, and with his determination, there’s no doubt he will go far.”

Odegbami, who himself held the second-place spot on Nigeria’s goal-scoring list for over four decades, expressed optimism that Osimhen can dethrone Yekini, whose 37-goal record has stood since 1998. “I hope Osimhen will end Yekini’s long reign. Yekini’s record has been there for so long, and while I held my record for many years, it’s clear that we’re not consistently producing top strikers in Nigeria,” Odegbami said.

The former winger, who was not primarily a striker during his playing days, also pointed out that Osimhen, at just 25 years old, has the advantage of more years ahead of him at the top level of international football to break the record.

For Osimhen to surpass Yekini’s total, he will need to score 12 more goals to reach the 37-goal benchmark set by the late football legend.

“I wish Osimhen the best of luck,” Odegbami concluded, expressing his hope that the Super Eagles forward will continue to rise and ultimately break Yekini’s long-standing record, solidifying his place as one of Nigeria’s greatest ever goal scorers.