Nigeria’s football history has a habit of repeating itself—sometimes gloriously, sometimes painfully. The ongoing debate between Ademola Lookman and Victor Osimhen is not just about missed passes, personal ambition, or body language on the pitch. It is a deeper, more uncomfortable conversation about ego, unity, power dynamics within the Super Eagles, and the haunting legacy of Rashidi Yekini, Nigeria’s greatest striker, who was denied his rightful place at the very top of African football history.
To understand what is happening today, we must go back—far back—because Nigeria did not arrive at this crossroads by accident.
Rashidi Yekini: The Goal Machine Who Was Supposed to Own Africa
Before Samuel Eto’o shattered records and became Africa’s all-time highest goal scorer at the African Cup of Nations (AFCON), that crown was within touching distance of Rashidi Yekini—long before the Cameroonian took the shine.
At a time when African football lacked today’s media exposure and commercial hype, Rashidi Yekini was a terror to defenders. Powerful, relentless, gangling, and brutally efficient, Yekini was the kind of striker who needed just half a chance to punish opponents. Prior to the 1992 AFCON in Senegal, his name dominated conversations across the continent. He was Nigeria’s undisputed talisman.
At Senegal ’92, while Nigeria eventually finished third, Yekini’s presence defined the Super Eagles’ attacking threat. Although players like Emmanuel Amunike, Samson Siasia, Finidi George, Mutiu Adepoju, and Daniel “The Bull” Amokachi all stepped up their games, something unhealthy was already brewing beneath the surface.
The Beginning of the Internal War
As Nigeria qualified for both the USA 1994 and France 1998 World Cups, internal divisions within the team grew stronger. What should have been healthy competition turned into quiet resentment.
Yekini was the undisputed main striker, and in football politics, that position often attracts enemies.
Supporting attackers—players whose primary job was to supply the main striker—gradually became less willing to play for him. Passes that should have been squared were delayed. Simple through-balls were ignored. The unity that defines great teams slowly eroded.
Yet, even in that hostile environment, Rashidi Yekini delivered one of the most iconic moments in Nigerian sports history.
USA ’94: Glory, Then Exile
At the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria made its debut on the world stage. Against Bulgaria, it was Rashidi Yekini—fed by a teammate like Sunday Oliseh, Finidi George, or Daniel Amokachi—who scored Nigeria’s first-ever World Cup goal.
The image of Yekini gripping the net in raw ecstasy became immortal.
But strangely, that goal felt like both a climax and a curse.
From that moment, it was as if a silent decision had been taken: Rashidi Yekini was no longer welcome at the center of Nigerian football plans. The “cold war” within the squad intensified, and Yekini’s influence gradually diminished.
AFCON 1996: The Record That Was Stolen by Politics
Perhaps the greatest injustice came in 1996, when Nigeria boycotted the African Cup of Nations in South Africa due to diplomatic tensions between the Nigerian government under General Sani Abacha and the post-apartheid South African government.
At the time:
Rashidi Yekini had 13 AFCON goals
Laurent Pokou (Ivory Coast) held the record with 14 goals
Yekini needed just one goal to equal the record—and likely surpass it.
But politics intervened.
The boycott denied Nigeria a chance to defend its continental dominance and robbed Rashidi Yekini of football immortality. That opportunity never came again. When Samuel Eto’o later broke Pokou’s record, it was a painful reminder that Yekini’s destiny had been violently interrupted—not by lack of ability, but by forces far beyond football.
Isolation, Trauma, and a Tragic End
By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Yekini had become estranged from the Nigerian football establishment. Despite his desire to feature in later tournaments—including the 2000 AFCON co-hosted by Nigeria and Ghana—the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) saw “no need” for him.
He faded into isolation.
Worse still, rumors were maliciously spread that Yekini had mental health problems—claims consistently denied by those close to him. These rumors eventually became the excuse for a horrifying sequence of events.
In April 2013, Rashidi Yekini was abducted by a family member under the guise of “treatment,” taken to a herbalist around the Apete area of Ibadan, and later poisoned to death.
Nigeria lost a legend. Not to football. Not to age. But to neglect, betrayal, and silence.
Victor Osimhen: History Knocking Again
Fast forward to today.
Since Yekini’s death, the closest Nigerian striker to his record as Nigeria’s all-time highest goal scorer is Victor Osimhen.
Before the match against Mozambique (The Mambas), Osimhen had 32 international goals. On paper, everything looked perfect for him to close the gap significantly. With proper service, a hat-trick—or more—was realistic.
But football is never played on paper.
Osimhen left the match with 34 goals, now just three goals shy of Rashidi Yekini’s record. The numbers are encouraging, but the body language, frustration, and visible tension on the pitch tell a deeper story.
Lookman, Ambition, and the Familiar Pattern
Ademola Lookman was outstanding in that game. He scored, created chances, and was deservedly named Man of the Match. But here lies the uncomfortable truth: Lookman, like Amokachi in the past, also has personal ambition.
There is nothing wrong with ambition. Footballers are competitors by nature.
The problem begins when personal ambition overrides collective purpose.
When Osimhen realized he wasn’t being fed properly, frustration took over. Lookman, meanwhile, was directly involved in all the goals scored by others and took his chances brilliantly.
This is not villainy—it is human nature.
But history warns us: this exact dynamic once destroyed Rashidi Yekini’s chance at greatness.
Can Osimhen Break the Record at AFCON?
Yes.
Absolutely.
Can he do it alone?
No.
That is the lesson Rashidi Yekini’s story screams at us.
Osimhen must understand that:
Other forwards have dreams.
Other players want headlines.
No striker breaks records without allies.
He must lead not just with goals, but with emotional intelligence.
The Role of the Coach: Eric Chelle’s Defining Moment
Coach Eric Chelle must act decisively. History has placed a warning sign directly in front of him.
He must:
Sit the team down.
Analyze past Nigerian failures.
Emphasize unity over individual glory.
Make players understand that Nigeria is bigger than any one name.
Without unity, talent collapses. Nigeria has seen this movie before—and the ending was tragic.
Fans, Journalists, and Responsibility
Criticism is part of football, but crucifixion helps no one.
Victor Osimhen is emotional because he gives everything. That passion is a strength—but unmanaged, it becomes a weakness. Lookman’s edge lies in his mental and emotional control.
Osimhen must grow wiser:
Mentally
Emotionally
Psychologically
That growth—not just goals—will separate him from Rashidi Yekini’s fate.
Final Word
Nigeria stands at a familiar crossroads.
We can either:
Repeat history,
or
Learn from it.
Rashidi Yekini should have owned African football history. Politics, ego, and disunity stopped him.
Victor Osimhen still has time.
But only if the Super Eagles choose unity over ego.
Nigeria is greater than all of us.
Long live Rashidi Yekini’s legacy.
Long live Victor Osimhen’s pursuit.
Long live the Super Eagles of Nigeria 🇳🇬
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