November 2, (THEWILL) – Over the years, Nigeria has produced some of Africa’s most prolific goal scorers, with several generations of Super Eagles stars establishing themselves as lethal finishers both at home and abroad.
Last week, Tolu Arokodare became the latest entrant into the prestigious list when he scored his 100th career goal in Ajax’s 2-0 win over Atalanta in the UEFA Conference League.
Reaching 100 career goals is a significant milestone for any footballer, requiring consistency, longevity, quality, and an exceptional eye for goals. Let’s look at 10 Nigerian players who have reached the 100-goal milestone during their careers in no particular order.
- Tolu Arokodare: Arokodare started his career at Box2Box FC in Lagos before moving on to join Valmiera in Latvia. He scored 22 goals for Valmiera in 32 appearances before moving on to join Cologne in Germany.
Arokodare scored 41 goals for KRC Genk, 21 for Amiens in France, six for Wolves, eight for Ajax and 22 for Valmiera. He has also scored two goals for Nigeria.
He led Genk to the Belgian League title in 2025. He finished the season tied with Adriano Bertaccini on 21 league goals, but won the Golden Boot because he scored more away goals.
He also won the 2025 Ebony Shoe award as the best African player in the Belgian Pro League. Arokodare has now scored 100 goals in 284 total appearances for the clubs and Nigeria combined.
- Victor Osimhen: The Galatasaray striker reached the milestone in 2023 while playing for Napoli.
Osimhen started his career in 2017 at Wolfsburg before moving on to join RSC Charleroi, Lille and Napoli.
He scored his 100th club goal for Napoli against Sassuolo in 2023 in a 2-0 win. He netted 18 goals for Lille, 20 goals for Royal Charleroi, 75 goals for Napoli. Presently, He has scored 60 goals in all competitions for Galatasaray, while he has 35 goals for Nigeria. Osimhen has won five top scorer awards so far in his career.
- Rashidi Yekini: Arguably Nigeria’s greatest striker, having built an impressive career that spanned more than two decades. He scored 37 goals in 62 international appearances, making him Nigeria’s all-time leading goalscorer.
At club level, Yekini was particularly prolific during his spell with Portuguese side Vitória de Setúbal, where he reportedly scored 91 goals in 114 appearances. He also enjoyed a productive spell with Shooting Stars, scoring 45 goals, while his time at Abiola Babes further strengthened his reputation as a clinical finisher.
His overall club record is listed at 220 goals in 365 appearances. His most prolific period came with Portugal’s Vitória Setúbal, where he scored 94 league goals across two spells.
- Odion Ighalo: The former Manchester United striker is one of the best strikers to come out of Nigeria, enjoying prolific run for clubs and country. He surpassed the 100-club-goal landmark during his time in China with Changchun Yatai in the 2017 Chinese Super League season.
He has scored over 200 career goals across club and international football. Ighalo scored 43 goals for Al Hilal, 36 goals for Changchun Yatai, 39 goals for Watford, 31 goals for Udinese, 21 goals for Al Wehda, 10 goals for Shanghai Shenhua, nine goals for Al Shabab, five goals for Manchester United.
He scored 16 goals for Nigeria, winning the top scorer award at the 2019 Nations Cup with five goals.
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- Obafemi Martins: Obagoal as he was fondly known also enjoyed a prolific career playing for the likes of Inter Milan, Newcastle United, Wolfsburg, Birmingham City, Levante. Martins scored 132 goals in 361 appearances for all the clubs he played for, while Scoring 18 goals for Nigeria in 42 appearances.
- Yakubu Aiyegbeni: was a prolific striker for Nigeria and the clubs he played for in his active days. He played for the likes of Julius Berger, Maccabi Haifa, Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton, Leicester City, Blackburn Rovers, Reading and Coventry City.
He scored a total of 170 goals in 424 appearances for his clubs before he retired. Yakubu scored 21 goals in 58 appearances for Nigeria.
- Nwankwo Kanu: Kanu is the only player on the list who is not a traditional striker, he enjoyed a brilliant career in front of goal playing for the likes of Ajax, Inter Milan, Arsenal, West Brom and Portsmouth. He scored a total of 109 goals during his club career. Kanu scored 30 goals for Arsenal, 25 for Ajax, 17 for Portsmouth, 15 for Iwuanyanwu Nationale, seven for West Brom, one for Inter Milan.
He won two Premier League titles and two FA Cups with Arsenal, including being part of the famous Invincibles squad that completed the 2003/04 Premier League season unbeaten. Kanu also played a major role in Nigeria’s historic football achievements, winning the 1996 Olympic gold medal and the 1994 Africa Cup of Nations.
He scored 12 goals in 86 matches for the Super Eagles.
- Osaze Odewingie: Osaze also passed the 100-goal mark during his active days playing for the likes of Bendel Insurance, Lille, Locomotive Moscow, West Brom, Cardiff, Stoke City. He scored 133 club goals during his professional career.
He enjoyed his most productive period at West Brom, where he scored 15 goals in his debut Premier League season.
His performances earned him recognition in English football, while he also represented Nigeria at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups.
Osaze scored 11 goals in 65 appearances for Nigeria between 2002 and 2014.
- Ikechukwu Uche: Uche established himself as one of the most consistent Nigerian goal scorers in Spanish football during his playing career.
He played the majority of his career in the Spanish La Liga, playing for the likes of Recreativo Huelva, Getafe, Real Zaragoza, Villarreal, Granada, UANL, Málaga, and Gimnastic.
He scored a total of 122 goals in 432 appearances for the clubs.
Uche netted 19 goals in 46 appearances for the Super Eagles.
- Cyril Dessers: Another Super Eagles striker, who has enjoyed a prolific career is Dessers.
He has scored 178 goals in his career so far, playing for the likes of OH Leuven, Lokeren, NAC Breda, FC Utrecht, Heracles Almelo, Genk, Feyenoord, Cremonese, Rangers, and presently Panathinaikos.
Dessers has played 11 matches for the Super Eagles, scoring three goals.
Ademola Lookman: Lookman is one goal away from hitting the 100-goal mark in his club career.
However, he has scored 110 goals for the likes of Charlton, Everton, RB Leipzig, Fulham, Leicester City, Atalanta, Atletico Madrid and the Super Eagles.
Lookman scored his 100th career goal on February 5, 2026, when he made his Atlético Madrid debut against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, scoring in a 5-0 victory.
