Nigeria’s flying Yakubu can top African scoring charts
Published:Nigeria’s 3-1 win against North Korea on Sunday was an indication of the Super Eagles’ good form, but the game was marred by a stampede outside the stadium which left an estimated 16 people injured.
When the game eventually got under way after long disruptions, Nigeria produced a performance which suggested that they could match, if not better, their best World Cup performance of reaching the second round.
And Everton striker Yakubu Aiyegbeni was among the most impressive performers, finishing off a swift move with a crisp finish to open the scoring after 17 minutes.
Goals from forwards Victor Obinna and Obafemi Martins sealed the 3-1 victory, a fifth consecutive game without defeat for Nigeria.
Yakubu’s form is particularly eye-catching, as it points towards a host of enticing alternative markets, such as the Top African Goalscorer.
Yakubu is 8/1 to be the top-scoring African at the World Cup, which is a very tempting price when you consider the Yak’s club scoring record, at Everton (24 goals in 68 games), Middlesbrough (25 in 73) and Portsmouth (29 in 66).
He has international pedigree too, and as the leading scorer in the Super Eagles squad with 20 goals from 52 caps, Yakubu is convincingly priced at 3/1 to be Nigeria’s top scorer.
Nigeria have an excellent chance of progressing to at least the second round from Group B, where they have been drawn with Argentina, Greece and South Korea.
Other African teams Ivory Coast and Ghana have both been handed formidable groups, while Algeria and Cameroon have faltered in recent friendly matches.
And although hosts South Africa may stand a decent chance of qualifying from Group A, they are only expected to play with one striker as part of what is likely to be a pragmatic approach.
So with this potential for more games and goalscoring opportunities than his African peers, Yakubu is a very good prospect to finish as the continent’s highest scorer at 8/1.
Who do you think will be Africa’s top scorer at the World Cup? Samuel Eto’o is 7/2. See the full Top African Goalscorer market.
