Nigeria’s sensational striker Victor Osimhen’s exceptional performance and goal-scoring prowess were largely instrumental to Napoli’s emergence as Serie A champions, their first Scudetto in 33 years. The city of Naples celebrated the club’s achievement with awe and admiration and doused Osimhen with praise, drawing parallels to their reverence for Diego Maradona, who brought glory to Naples in the 1987/1988 and 1989/1990 campaigns.
As fireworks illuminated the city skyline and fans donned facemasks in tribute, Osimhen’s determined drive towards excellence, regardless of the odds that fate had thrown on his path, had attained the summit of glory at this point in his professional career.
The journey of the 24-year-old from the impoverished Olusosun community in Lagos to conquering Italian football not only showcased his remarkable growth and perseverance but also proved the importance of grooming prospecting and promising youngsters from age-range competitions to the professional level. It carries with it the lesson that the budding talents in Nigeria are waiting to be discovered and encouraged to blossom within the sports community and that when such talents are mixed with hard-nosed determination to sustain the benefits of any opportunity to thrive, the day will surely come when the spotlight will shine and the world will stand to applaud the outcome as it is today for Osimhen.
It was not always obvious that the boy from the backwaters of Lagos was going to turn out quite successfully. That it even happened owes much to the concatenation of several interlocking factors and occurrences that combined with Osimhen’s grit and guts to see him reach the pinnacle of success in his chosen striking position at the tip of whichever team he found himself. An inkling into how dire his situation was and how unsavoury things may have turned out can be glimpsed from Osimhen’s own admission that very few believed anything good could ever come out of his family. The pinned tweet of his verified Twitter account puts it plainly: “If you knew where some of us came from, you wouldn’t pray for us to fail.”
To better appreciate this stark expression, it is apposite to go back to the beginning of how the Osimhen family encountered the unfortunate loss of the mother of the house when the football star himself was still a young child. In his own words: “I lost my mom in October, I do not even remember the year. I was small. Three months later, my father lost his job. It was very hard for our family.” Osimhen described the situation of things in the family and how they struggled to survive.
“My brother sold sports newspapers, my sister (sold) oranges in the street and me, bottled water in Lagos in the middle of the traffic. We had to survive so we stuck together. In the evening, we were all together and we gathered the money on the table. We gave everything to our big sister and she made food and organised everything.”
These took place in the Olusosun community, which is commonly associated with a notorious landfill site located nearby. This landfill, which covers over 40 acres of land, serves as a dumping ground for waste and emits a nauseating odour, creating an unpleasant sight for passers-by, saying nothing of residents who lived with it. The area is always dimly lit, lacks basic amenities, and is a constant source of pollution, especially with the constant flames that arise from the regular incineration of the enormous pile of rubbish that is the community’s landmark.
Osimhen also noted how this same dump became a source of sports gear as he began to take his first steps towards a career in football. He said: “Where I grew up, people live on the other side of an open dump. With my friends, we went there every Friday or Sunday to find shoes. We stayed there a long time. It was funny! We saw it as a game but when you think about it … It was always a fight. Sometimes you see, you found yourself with a Nike on the right foot and then you start looking for the other foot … And finally, you find the left foot and it’s a Reebok! My sister patched everything up and it was good. It was survival.”
Osimhen’s football talent was obvious to those who saw him perform, especially at the Olusosun Primary School. Despite the challenging circumstances, the young boy found hope and inspiration in football from a young age. He joined a local cadet football club called Peric Academy, along with his friends, as they saw the sport as a means to a better life. Although some initially dismissed Osimhen’s talent due to his humble appearance, he knew the potential football held for him, even when few others saw it.
Indeed, at one point, Osimhen briefly paused his football pursuits to work for a “Baba Ijebu” agent. His talent eventually caught the attention of Emmanuel Amunike, the coach of the then Under-17 national team, during trials with thousands of other prospects. Despite a setback during the trials, Osimhen’s determination and raw talent impressed the assistant coach, who advocated for his inclusion in the team. He was given another opportunity to prove himself and ultimately made it to the Golden Eaglets’ team that went on to win the U-17 Chile-hosted World Cup in 2015.
Osimhen played a vital role in the team’s success, scoring an impressive 10 goals. His exceptional performance earned him both the golden boot, awarded to the tournament’s top scorer, and the silver ball, given to the second-best player of the tournament.
Following this display, Osimhen, who was attracting attention from prestigious European clubs, such as Barcelona, Arsenal and Juventus, had to make a choice. Focused on personal growth, however, he decided to join VfL Wolfsburg, a German club in 2019. Unfortunately, his time at Wolfsburg was plagued by challenges.
In his first season, Osimhen suffered a severe knee injury that required three surgeries to repair. Shortly after recovering, he encountered a shoulder problem that further kept him off the field. Frustrated with his progress, the club sent him on summer trials with Belgian clubs Zulte Waregem and Club Brugge, but his physical condition was affected by malaria, and neither club decided to take him on loan. Wolfsburg then decided to loan him to FC Charleroi in the Belgian Pro League. It was during his time in Belgium that he quietly rebuilt his strength and resilience, showcasing his determination to overcome setbacks.
Osimhen made his debut as a substitute and scored his first professional goal in a match against Waasland-Beveren. He continued to score goals for Charleroi, finishing the first half of the season with 8 goals in 16 games. After a successful loan spell, Charleroi exercised their option to acquire Osimhen permanently. However, he was subsequently transferred to French Ligue 1 club Lille for a reported fee of €12 million plus bonuses and add-ons.
Osimhen expressed his excitement about joining Lille and mentioned the club’s successful history and the presence of notable Nigerian players who had played there before.
He was assigned the number 7 jersey at Lille and he shone the brightest at the Ligue 1 side. His resurgence in Lille caught the attention of many, and in 2020, Napoli secured his services for a club-record fee of €70 million, making him the most expensive African footballer at the time. However, his journey with Napoli encountered setbacks due to injuries.
During a match for the Nigerian national team, Osimhen dislocated his shoulder, sidelining him for two months.
Furthermore, he contracted COVID-19 after a visit to Nigeria, further disrupting his season. Despite these challenges, Osimhen managed to score 10 goals, but doubts arose regarding the value of his price tag, compared to his on-field contributions. That was the status quo when this season began with the promise of giving him a fresh opportunity to shine. Yet, it was almost ruined by another injury once more. Osimhen suffered a severe injury when he collided with Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar during a Serie A match against Inter Milan in November 2021. He suffered multiple facial fractures and had his eye come out of its socket. Osimhen underwent surgery, which involved the placement of titanium plates and screws to repair the damage. Although his recovery was a long and arduous process, he eventually made a comeback.
Fortunately, apart from a knock he sustained while on international duty with Nigeria in the return fixture against Guinea-Bissau, the 2022/2023 season proved to be injury-free for Osimhen, allowing him to showcase his talents and form a remarkable partnership with Georgian strike partner Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, fondly called “Kvaradona” by the Napoli fans in reference to his likeness to Maradona.
Together, they played a crucial role in Napoli’s successful campaign, which resulted in them securing the Serie A title for the first time in 33 years.
Osimhen’s contributions to the team were invaluable, as he consistently found the back of the net and provided assists. His performances not only solidified his place as a key player for Napoli but also drew admiration from fans and pundits alike. He was instrumental in guiding the team to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League, further cementing his status as a top-class striker.
Indeed, many pundits aver that his absence in the first leg, and match rustiness in the reverse fixture against AC Milan, where he still found a way to force an equaliser, was largely responsible for Napoli’s ouster from Europe’s elite competition.
Osimhen’s journey from the humble streets of Olusosun to becoming a prominent figure in European football demonstrates the power of determination, hard work, and resilience. He has become a symbol of hope for young Nigerians who face similar challenges and dream of a better future through football.
The losing U-17 team can take a leaf from Osimhen’s story, which serves as a reminder that success is not always linear and that setbacks and obstacles are a part of the journey. His ability to overcome adversity and achieve greatness should be an inspiration for them, and the society at large, to persevere in the face of challenges.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) can groom a new class of Osimhens with this group and the lesson of Osimhen’s success should be the evocation that pushes the Federation to liaise with coach Nduka Ugbade to help these youngsters remain focused in the same way that current President of Liberia, George Weah, inspired Osimhen to meet and break his Serie A scoring record by his blazing form this season.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
