December 31, (THEWILL) – Victor Osimhen has cemented his place as Nigeria’s top scorer for 2023, netting an impressive 34 goals across club and country. In a compilation by Soar Super Eagles, the Napoli striker, who has been in scintillating form this year, finished two goals ahead of KAA Gent’s Gift Orban, who enjoyed a breakout season in Belgium.
Osimhen’s tally includes 31 goals for Napoli, where he helped fire the Italian giants to the Serie A title race. He also chipped in with three goals for the Super Eagles, including a crucial strike in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Orban’s emergence as a major force has been one of the biggest surprises of the year. The 21-year-old, who joined Gent from Norwegian side Stabæk in January, quickly adapted to European football, scoring 20 goals in his first season in Belgium. He continued his fine form in 2023/2024, adding a further 12 goals to his tally.
Next is Odion Ighalo, who remains a reliable source of goals even at the age of 34. The veteran striker, who split his year between Al-Hilal and Al-Wehda in Saudi Arabia, scored 28 goals in all competitions, proving that he is still a valuable asset in the scoring department.
Other notable scorers on the list include Victor Boniface (26 goals), Akor Adams (25 goals), Yusuf Otubanjo (23 goals), Abdulrahman Taiwo (21 goals), Mathias Oyewusi (20 goals), Robert Mizo (19 goals) and Terem Moffi (18).
The future looks bright for Nigerian football, with a talented pool of young strikers emerging. Osimhen, Orban, Boniface, and Adams are all around the age of 25 and have the potential to become world stars in the years to come.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
