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Osimhen: How Soon Will He Become Nigeria’s Record Scorer?

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Youthful Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, has scored 20 goals in 27 games for Super Eagles of Nigeria.

This leaves him fourth on the all time scorers ranking for Nigeria’s national senior men’s football team, the Super Eagles.

Others on the top three ranking are, Rasheed Yekini of blessed memory, who remains, Nigeria’s all-time top scorer with 37 goals, legendary Segun Odegbami, is second with 23 goals scored in 46 games, and Yakubu Aiyegbeni with 21 goals to his credit.

This record shows that going into today’s friendly against the Saudi Arabian national team, Osimhen can fancy his chances of displacing Aiyegbeni in the third place, with just two strikes.

Football buffs maintain that given the Napoli strikers prolific form for the both club and country, Aiyegbeni’s records is under real threat.

However, what is more interesting is that given the rate at which Osimhen has progressed, his surpassing Yekini’s record is just a matter of time, baring injury.

This is so, because the record took Yekini almost two decades and close to close to 100 games to set, while Odegbemi made his mark between 1976 and 1982, and Aiyegbeni required 57 games between 2000 and 2012 for his 21-goal-mark, which leaves him in third place.

The Napoli striker’s national team goal-ration is superior to those, whose records, he would be aiming to take.

The 24-year-old has been in prolific form for the Eagles, scoring 10 goals in his last six games — which saw him emerge as the highest scorer in the African Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

However, he has not been as prolific in friendlies as in competitive games for the Super Eagles, having scored just once in six friendly encounters.

Recall that Osimhen made his competitive debut for Nigeria in a 2-0 loss to South Africa in 2017 and scored his first goal for the Super Eagles from the spot in a 2-2 draw against Ukraine in Dnipro in 2018.

The Napoli star was a member of the Nigerian squad to the 2019 AFCON in Egypt, where he made only one appearance — the third-place match.

He missed out on the delayed AFCON edition in Cameroon in 2022 over COVID-19 related issues, but started off the qualification for the 2023 AFCON in sparkling form helping Nigeria win both of their first two matches.

Osimhen netted a goal against Sierra Leone and another four goals in a 10–0 win against São Tomé and Príncipe.

In the reverse fixture at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on September 10, Osimhen scored his second international hat-trick in Nigeria’s 6–0 win against the minnows, which saw him finish the 2023 AFCON qualifiers as top scorer with 10 goals.

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Chelsea Handed Injury Boost As Omari Kellyman Nears Return

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Chelsea are set to receive a welcome boost with Omari Kellyman nearing a return to action after a frustrating start to his Stamford Bridge career.

The 19-year-old midfielder, who joined the Blues from Aston Villa in a £19 million summer transfer, has been sidelined with a serious hamstring injury since September.

Kellyman initially made an impression with Chelsea’s Under-21s, scoring twice in three appearances, including during a 4-2 defeat to Leipzig in the Premier League International Cup. However, his progress was halted by the injury, which has kept him out of action for months.

READ MORE: Chelsea Desires Permanent Deal For João Félix After Collapse Of Omorodion Deal

According to reports from the Daily Mail, Kellyman is now on track to return within the next four weeks, offering Chelsea a much-needed boost as the team looks to navigate a congested festive fixture schedule. The teenager is expected to be fit before Christmas and could soon make his senior debut for the club.

Reflecting on his move to Chelsea earlier this year, Kellyman expressed his excitement about joining the West London outfit. “It is fantastic to be standing here as a Chelsea player. It’s a massive club with an amazing history, so it is great to join. It is a dream come true for sure. I’m buzzing to have put on the shirt and can’t wait to get started,” he said.

Kellyman’s footballing journey began at Derby County, where he progressed through the youth ranks and was promoted to the first-team squad by Wayne Rooney at just 16 years old.

After leaving Derby for Aston Villa in 2022, he signed his first professional contract and made his Premier League debut last season against Manchester City.

Despite his brief stint at Villa, which included a Europa Conference League appearance, Kellyman made the high-profile move to Chelsea in June, signing a six-year contract.

Now, as he edges closer to full fitness, both the player and the club will hope his long-awaited debut signals the start of a successful tenure at Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea Holds Scouting Summit With Enzo Maresca

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Earlier this month, Chelsea Football Club convened a comprehensive meeting of their first-team recruitment team, aimed at aligning their efforts with the club’s overarching vision.

This scouting summit brought together approximately 30 of the club’s key talent identifiers, with the objective of reinvigorating the search for future stars in world football.

Adding an extra layer of inspiration to the gathering, Leicester City manager and former Manchester City assistant, Enzo Maresca, made a guest appearance. Maresca, who briefly worked alongside some of Chelsea’s current personnel during his time under Pep Guardiola, took time to pose for a group photograph with the team. Those present reportedly left the summit feeling “enthused, energised, and as motivated as ever” to uncover the next generation of footballing gems.

READ MORE: Osimhen Casts Doubts Over Touted Winter Move To Chelsea

The Italian tactician has maintained an interest in Chelsea’s squad and their emerging talents. A source close to Maresca suggested that he harbours a keen desire to see Cole Palmer, one of Chelsea’s brightest young signings, team up with Joao Felix, the Portuguese forward who enjoyed a brief but impactful loan spell at Stamford Bridge last season.

While Palmer continues to thrive at Chelsea following his summer move from Manchester City, Felix’s future remains uncertain, with speculation persisting about whether the Blues could revisit a permanent deal for the Atlético Madrid star.

Chelsea’s recruitment team will undoubtedly keep such possibilities in mind as they look to execute their shared vision, leveraging the energy from this summit to identify players capable of complementing the club’s long-term strategy. With Maresca’s words and presence leaving a lasting impression, the search for the world’s finest footballing gems continues in earnest.

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Lukeba’s €90m Clause Attracts Real Madrid, PL Clubs

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RB Leipzig defender Castello Lukeba has become a hot topic in the transfer market following details about his new contract.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Lukeba’s release clause will come into effect in the summer of 2025, starting at around €90 million and varying from season to season.

This development has drawn the attention of football giants, with Real Madrid reportedly keeping a close watch on the French centre-back’s progress. Premier League clubs are also monitoring Lukeba as a potential defensive reinforcement for 2025.

READ MORE: Wizkid Breaks Spotify Records With ‘Kese (Dance)’ Release

The 20-year-old, who joined Leipzig from Olympique Lyonnais in 2023, has already made an impression in the Bundesliga with his composed defensive skills and tactical versatility. His rising profile has placed him among Europe’s most promising young defenders, making him a coveted target for top clubs.

Leipzig’s decision to include a fluctuating release clause highlights their commitment to protecting Lukeba’s value while leaving the door open for a future big-money move.

With Real Madrid and several Premier League sides in the mix, the 2025 summer transfer window is already shaping up to be a pivotal moment in Lukeba’s career. Fans and scouts alike will be closely watching his development as he continues to shine in Leipzig’s backline.

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