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Victor Osimhen, who currently holds the title of African footballer of the year, plays a crucial role in Nigeria’s pursuit of a fourth Africa Cup of Nations championship in Ivory Coast. However, his football career could have taken a very different and negative turn.
The forward accomplished a Serie A championship with Napoli and made history as the first African to become the league’s top scorer, but Osimhen’s early career in Europe was almost cut short before it even began.
In 2017, he transferred to Wolfsburg after leading Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to victory at the Under-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. However, things did not go as expected as he struggled to secure a spot on the team, leaving him feeling dejected and disappointed.
“I once spoke to my previous agent and informed him that I was willing to join a third or fourth league team in Germany, as my main goal was to play. Despite the challenges I have faced throughout my life, I have always managed to overcome them,” he shares with the Guardian.
I accept complete accountability for any negative events that occurred there. I chose to go to Wolfsburg in order to grow and develop, as I recognized that I still had room for improvement after the World Cup in Chile. During my time there, I had the privilege of learning from players like Mario Gómez and Divock Origi. Before finally joining Charleroi on loan, I faced rejection from two clubs in Belgium.
To be honest, it was difficult at first. I had achieved great success as the top scorer at the Under-17 World Cup and was recognized as the second-best player in the tournament. However, as I saw my career decline and heard negative comments about myself, it was draining. Despite this, I am confident in my abilities and know the quality of player I am. I believed that one season could completely turn my life around.
My relocation to Charleroi, Belgium in 2018 marked a significant moment in my life. I credit my achievements to the club’s president and the citizens of Charleroi who showed their support and belief in a 19-year-old boy striving to make a name for himself.
Since 2020, he has been playing for Napoli after a remarkable season at Lille. He has transformed into a formidable attacker and is currently being pursued by some of the best teams in the world.
When I arrived in Napoli, there were many high hopes for me. However, I faced several injuries and then Covid came. Despite this, the people never lost faith in me. Many of them encouraged me with messages and flowers, showing me a great deal of love. It is an incredible feeling to have been able to help the team win the Scudetto and I am thankful to God for the opportunity to repay their trust in me. Playing at the Diego Maradona Stadium and hearing my name being chanted every time I score is truly an honor.
At the moment, he has no intentions of leaving southern Italy for new opportunities. He states, “I must honor my contract.” He will reveal any changes in the summer. Currently, he is fully focused on the Afcon.
However, Osimhen’s life is not solely focused on football. He was raised in Olusosun, a district on the outskirts of Lagos, the most populated city in Nigeria, and he has a deep understanding of the harsh impact of intergenerational poverty.
Olusosun is a small neighborhood located near a landfill. Often, individuals visit the landfill in search of valuable items to sell for profit. Personally, I would go there to find old boots that I could use for playing football. This was a common practice among many of us in the community. In addition, I also sold bottled water on the streets of Lagos to assist my family in making a living.
I realized that football was the only means to lift them out of poverty, so I dedicated my time and life to this profession. I am grateful that it was successful. My greatest achievement is being able to lift my family out of poverty.
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Meeting Emmanuel Amuneke, the ex-player for Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona, who served as the coach for the Nigerian team that claimed victory in the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, was a pivotal moment in Osimhen’s career.
“I first encountered Osimhen in 2014 while scouting players in Abuja for the Nigerian team that would compete in Chile,” Amuneke recalls. “At first, I didn’t pay much attention to Osimhen as I was focused on the other players. However, my staff brought him to my attention, saying ‘Coach, that boy in the green long-sleeve shirt can really play…'”
“I provided him with a second chance to participate in the following set and then took a moment to carefully observe him. I admired his enthusiasm, his drive, his assertiveness… I then instructed one of my team members to make a note of his name. That’s how we selected him and worked on developing him, refining his actions and movements. I am pleased to see the outcome of Osimhen,” states Amuneke, who was named African Footballer of the Year in 1994.
Supporters of the Super Eagles see Osimhen as the heir to the renowned Rashidi Yekini, the late top scorer for Nigeria whose impressive 13 goals at Afcon were only surpassed by Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Laurent Pokou of Ivory Coast. The Napoli striker is fully conscious of the expectations placed upon him.
“Yekini is the most influential striker the Super Eagles has ever had,” Osimhen says. “He inspired a lot of us that have come through the ranks. He inspired us to be the goal machine that he has been. He is the pacesetter and what he has done for the Super Eagles is unimaginable. I hope that I am able to reach there.”
In the near future, Osimhen’s main goal is to assist Nigeria in achieving their fourth Afcon championship. They advanced to the round of 16 after a 1-0 win against Guinea-Bissau on Monday, securing second place in Group A.
“He expresses his desire to achieve victory with this exceptional team,” he declares. “My goal is to provide Nigerians with a memorable experience. I am fully committed to bringing home the trophy.”
Source: theguardian.com
