Victor Osimhen is the current African footballer of the year and is critical to Nigeria’s quest for a fourth Africa Cup of Nations title in Ivory Coast but his career in football could have turned out very differently, and very badly.
The forward achieved a Serie A championship with Napoli and was the first African to be named the league’s top scorer, but Osimhen’s European career almost came to an abrupt end in its initial stages.
Unfortunately, his transfer to Wolfsburg in 2017 did not go as expected. This came after his impressive performance with Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets, where he helped them win the Under-17 World Cup in Chile in 2015. However, he was unable to secure a spot in the team, leaving him feeling dejected and disappointed.
“I once had a conversation with my previous agent where I expressed my willingness to join a lower division club in Germany, as my main goal was to play the sport. Despite facing many challenges in my life, I have always managed to overcome them,” he shares with the Guardian.
“I accept full responsibility for any negative events that occurred during my time there. I made the decision to join Wolfsburg in order to improve myself, as I recognized that I still had room for growth after the World Cup in Chile. While at Wolfsburg, I had the opportunity to learn from players like Mario Gómez and Divock Origi. Prior to joining Charleroi on loan, I had been rejected by two clubs in Belgium.”
I must be honest, it was difficult in the beginning. I achieved the most goals at the Under-17 World Cup and was chosen as the second-best player of the tournament. However, I started to see my career decline and people would say negative things about me. Despite this, I am confident in my abilities and the level of skill I have. I believed that one season could completely turn my life around.
My relocation to Charleroi, Belgium in 2018 was the defining moment in my life. The president of the club and the people of Charleroi played a significant role in my success by showing their support and trust in a 19-year-old boy striving to make a name for himself.
Since joining Napoli in 2020, he has transformed into a ruthless striker, attracting interest from the world’s leading teams after an impressive season with Lille.
When I arrived in Napoli, there were high hopes for my performance. However, I faced multiple injuries and then the Covid pandemic hit. Despite this, the people never lost faith in me. Many of them sent me messages and flowers to lift my spirits. They showed me tremendous love and support. Winning the Scudetto with their help is a blessing from God. I am grateful to be able to repay their trust in me. It is a great honor to play at the Diego Maradona Stadium and hear them chant my name every time I score.
He currently has no plans to leave southern Italy for a new location. He states, “I am obligated to honor my contract.” He will reveal any changes in the summer. At the moment, his focus is on the Afcon.
However, Osimhen’s interests and talents extend beyond just football. Having been raised in Olusosun, a neighborhood on the outskirts of Lagos, the most populous city in Nigeria, he is well aware of the harsh reality of generational poverty.
“Olusosun is a nearby community to a waste disposal area. Many individuals frequent the dump site to collect valuable items to sell for profit. Personally, I would go there in search of old boots to use for playing football. This was a norm for many of us in the community and it was how I was raised. In addition, I also sold bottled water on the streets of Lagos to support my family’s livelihood.”
I recognized that playing football was the only means to lift my family out of poverty, so I dedicated a significant amount of time and effort to this pursuit. I am overjoyed that it was successful. My greatest achievement is being able to improve my family’s financial situation.
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Meeting Emmanuel Amuneke, a former player for Sporting Lisbon and Barcelona, who was the coach of the Nigerian team that won the 2015 Under-17 World Cup, was a pivotal moment in Osimhen’s career.
I encountered Osimhen in 2014 in Abuja during player tryouts to select candidates for Nigeria’s representation in Chile,” Amuneke recalls. “At first, I didn’t pay him much attention as I was focused on evaluating the next group of players. However, my staff brought him to my attention, saying: ‘Coach, that boy in the long-sleeved green shirt, he’s got skills…'”
“I offered him a second chance to participate in the next set and took some time to observe him closely. I was impressed by his drive, determination, and assertiveness… I instructed one of my assistants to make a note of his name. That’s how we selected him and worked on developing his skills, honing his actions and movements. I am pleased to see the progress that Osimhen has made,” 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, who holds the title of Nigeria’s all-time top scorer and has a remarkable record of 13 Afcon goals, surpassed only by Samuel Eto’o of Cameroon and Laurent Pokou of Ivory Coast. Osimhen, who plays for Napoli, is fully cognizant of the expectations placed upon him.
According to Osimhen, Yekini is the most influential striker in the history of the Super Eagles. He has been a role model for many of us who have joined the team. Yekini’s success as a goal scorer has motivated us to become goal machines ourselves. He has set the bar high and his contributions to the Super Eagles are beyond imagination. Osimhen aspires to achieve the same level of success.
Osimhen’s current focus is on aiding Nigeria in their quest for a fourth Afcon championship. They have advanced to the round of 16 following 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 hopes to leave a lasting impression on Nigerians and is fully committed to bringing home the trophy.
Source: theguardian.com
