Yusuf Otubanjo, a Nigerian striker plying his trade in the Armenian Premier League, has etched his name in the league’s history books by becoming the highest-scoring foreign player. With 87 league goals, the 32-year-old surpassed the previous record held by Brazilian Marcos Pizzelli, achieving this feat in just five years playing for Ararat Armenia and currently Pyunik. Otubanjo, who represented Nigeria at the U-17 World Cup in 2009, possesses an impressive career tally of 159 goals and 51 assists in 336 appearances across clubs in Austria, Slovakia, and Armenia. His journey, however, has been marked by an unfulfilled ambition: representing the Nigerian senior national team.
Despite his consistent goal-scoring prowess and contributions to his clubs’ successes, including league titles and appearances in European competitions like the Champions League and Conference League qualifiers, Otubanjo’s performances haven’t translated into a call-up to the Super Eagles. This absence from the international stage, while potentially fueling his focused club career, remains a source of disappointment. He expressed his belief that achieving milestones like becoming the league’s top scorer would attract the attention of national team selectors, but the recognition has yet to materialize.
Otubanjo’s prolific scoring record in Armenia extends beyond the foreign players’ chart. He is now within striking distance of the prestigious 100-goal mark in the Armenian topflight, needing only 13 more goals to join this exclusive club. While the all-time record of 197 goals, held by Armenian legend Arsen Avetisyan, remains a distant target, Otubanjo’s consistent performance suggests that further milestones are within reach. His current season form, with 13 goals already to his name, places him joint-second in the goal-scoring charts, just six goals behind the leader.
Beyond personal accolades, Otubanjo remains committed to team success. Playing for Pyunik, the most successful club in Armenian football history with 16 league titles, he aims to propel the team back to the top of the league. Currently sitting fourth in the standings, Pyunik faces stiff competition in a league that Otubanjo acknowledges has become increasingly competitive. His ambition extends beyond the league title, as he also targets the individual award for the highest goal scorer, seeing these achievements as markers of true excellence.
Otubanjo’s story is one of perseverance and dedication. At 32, he defies conventional notions about age and athletic decline, emphasizing the importance of physical conditioning and a strong will to continue performing at a high level. His unwavering focus on his goals, both individual and collective, underscores a mentality that dismisses age as a barrier and embraces the ongoing challenge of competing and succeeding in professional football.
The Nigerian forward’s journey in Armenia serves as a compelling narrative of a player making a significant impact in a less-heralded league, consistently striving for excellence, and maintaining a burning ambition to represent his country at the highest level. While the international recognition he craves remains elusive, Otubanjo continues to write his own success story, one goal at a time, leaving an indelible mark on Armenian football history and keeping the hope of a national team call-up alive.
