Football
Osimhen: The rise of a Nigerian football sensation
Victor Osimhen’s or the hitman as he is called by his fans journey to becoming one of the brightest young football talents in the world is a story of sheer determination and hard work. Born December 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria, Osimhen has come a long way from his humble beginnings to becoming fans favorite and a well sought-after striker, coveted by some of biggest football clubs all around Europe.
Osimhen’s early years were marked by tragedy, his mother passed-on at a young age. However, his father’s unwavering support and encouragement helped him focus on his passion of playing football. At the age of 13, he joined the Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos, where he was able to groom his skills and develop as a footballer.
His impressive performances for Ultimate Strikers caught the attention of the Nigerian national team handlers , and he was called up to represent his country at the level of the Under-17 . where he made immediate impact, finishing as the top scorer, winning the Golden Boot at the 2015 Under-17 World Cup tournament in Chile, and helped Nigeria to win the Junior World Cup.
His exploits at the World Cup caught the attention of scouts from Europe’s biggest football clubs, that led to his first professional signing, and signed for VFL Wolfsburg of Germany in January 2017.
However, he struggled to make an impact on the field as he was marred by injury. After just a season, he was loaned out to Belgian club Charleroi for the 2018/19 season due to his poor runs no thanks to injuries; a situation many thought could dwindle his career* .
At Charleroi, Osimhen found his rhythm once again, scoring 20 goals in all competitions and establishing himself as one of the most promising prolific young striker in Europe ever sought after.* His performances earned him a move to French giants Lille, where he continued to excel, breaking all goal scoring barriers.
In his debut season for Lille, Victor Osimhen scored 18 goals in all competitions, helping his team finish fourth in the French Ligue 1 and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, a feat that earned him* the Marc-Vivien Foe award for the best African player in Ligue 1 and was also nominated for the Ligue 1 African Player of the Year award in recognition for his outstanding display.
Victor Osimhen currently plays as a striker for the Italian Serie A giant, Napoli. He joined Napoli in July 2020 for a club-record fee of €70 million, in July 2020, from Lille . He made his debut for Napoli in September 2020, scoring his first goal for the club in a 6-0 win over Genoa.
However, Osimhen’s first season at Napoli was also characterlised by injuries and he only managed to make 24 appearances in all competitions, scoring 10 goals. Nevertheless, he showed flashes of his immense potential and was praised for his work rate, speed, and finishing abilities.
In the 2021-2022 season, Osimhen has started to fulfill his potential, scoring 13 goals in 29 appearances across all competitions for Napoli, which he has since exceeded in the current 2022/2023 season sitting as the league leaders. He has formed a lethal partnership with Lorenzo Insigne and has helped Napoli challenge for the Serie A title .
Osimhen possesses exceptional pace, power, and technical ability, which have made him a nightmare for opposition defenders. His talent is not just limited to his goal-scoring abilities . He is also a team player, always willing to work hard for the benefit of his team, massively engaging in tackling and creating assists for others to score. What an unselfish attitude.
Osimhen is known for his humility and dedication, on and off the pitch. He has never forgotten his roots and has always used his platform to give back to the community. In 2020, he donated food items to vulnerable families in Nigeria, a gesture that earned him praises and admiration from people all over the world.
As Osimhen continues to shine, it is clear that he has the potential to become one of the greatest footballers of his generation. His journey so far is a testament to his resilience, hard work, and dedication to his craft. As Nigerians, we are proud of him, and we look forward to seeing him achieve even greater heights in the years to come, who knows, may be winning the Best Footballer of the World Award.