Osimhen nears Yekini record as Iwobi and Simon hit milestones in Nigeria’s 4-1 win over Gabon

Victor Osimhen inched closer to Rashidi Yekini’s all-time scoring record for the Super Eagles, while Alex Iwobi and Moses Simon celebrated major career milestones as Nigeria triumphed 4-1 over Gabon in the 2026 World Cup playoff on Thursday night, Sport360NG reports.

Osimhen’s brace in extra time at Rabat’s Moulay Hassan Stadium brought his international tally to 31 goals, leaving him just six shy of Yekini’s legendary record of 3, a mark that has stood since the early 1990s.

The Galatasaray striker proved decisive after regulation ended 1-1. Following Chidera Ejuke’s goal that had briefly restored Nigeria’s lead, Osimhen struck in the 102nd minute with a sharp-angled finish before calmly converting his second in the 110th to secure victory.

So far, Osimhen has scored against 12 different nations, with his most productive outings coming against Sao Tome (seven goals) and Benin (five). At 26, the forward is widely tipped to surpass Yekini if he maintains his current scoring consistency.

Meanwhile, Iwobi marked his 90th appearance for the Super Eagles, moving joint fourth on Nigeria’s all-time caps list alongside John Obi Mikel. The 29-year-old Fulham midfielder, who switched allegiance from England in 2015, made his senior debut against the Democratic Republic of Congo in a friendly that October.

An Arsenal Academy graduate, Iwobi has played a key role in Nigeria’s recent campaigns, featuring in every match as the Super Eagles claimed third place at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations in Egypt and finishing as runners-up at AFCON 2023 in Ivory Coast.

Simon also reached a milestone, earning his 86th cap and equalling former stars Nwankwo Kanu and Muda Lawal. The Paris FC winger made his debut on March 25, 2015, against Uganda, and has since scored 10 goals for Nigeria. He was part of the squad that finished second at the 2023 AFCON, won the Unity Cup in 2025, and received the Member of the Order of the Niger honor.

The Super Eagles’ all-time most-capped players are led by Ahmed Musa (111), Vincent Enyeama (101), and Joseph Yobo (100), with Iwobi and Simon following closely.

Nigeria will now face DR Congo in the CAF World Cup playoff final on Sunday, November 16. The Leopards secured their spot with a 1-0 semi-final win over Cameroon, thanks to a stoppage-time strike from captain Chancel Mbemba.

The winner of Sunday’s clash will advance to the six-team intercontinental playoff in Mexico in March 2026, which will determine the final two nations to qualify for next year’s World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.