Former Nigeria Super Eagles striker Yakubu Ayegbeni believes he’s one of the top African striker to ever played in the English Premier League.
Yakubu sits fifth on the list of all-time African goalscorers in the Premier League, just behind Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor’s 97 for Arsenal, Manchester City, Tottenham and Crystal Palace.
Chelsea legend Didier Drogba and Liverpool star Mohamed Salah are Africa’s top scoring Premier League players with 104 goals each, while Sadio Mane is third on the list with 100 goals.
Ayegbeni featured for Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn Rovers over a nine-year period, and believes his record stacks up favourably considering his club’s comparatively lower standings.
“I’ll still remain one of the top strikers from Africa, no matter if those guys score more than 100 goals,” Ayegbeni said.
“Don’t forget they played for some of the biggest clubs in England.
“To score 15, 17 goals in Portsmouth, Middlesbrough, Everton and Blackburn is big as well. If you can get 15 goals in a season as a striker in England, it’s a great season for you.
“For me, it’s an honour to score that many goals. I got injured and didn’t play for one year. If I had, I would’ve scored more than 100. I had chances to do it, but the time was right for me to leave, so I went to China.”
As for current players, Manchester City’s Algeria international Riyad Mahrez (67) – sixth on the list – and Arsenal’s Gabonese striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (66) – seventh – still have some way to go to trouble the top five.
