The journey to South America was marred by significant challenges, focusing on the team’s welfare, compounded by minimal support from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and a lack of belief from a segment of the Nigerian public and press.
Despite the harsh Chilean cold, the Golden Eaglets reached Santiago ahead of their opening match against the United States, appearing in a somewhat dilapidated state with inadequate covering. The entire group, including players and accompanying officials, found themselves left unattended in the cold.
While many teammates fretted about adapting to the hostile weather, Osimhen had his sights set on triumph at Chile 2015. In a bold move, he approached the team’s administrative secretary, Tayo Egbaiyelo of the NFF, requesting the latest Nike soccer shoes then valued at $250 USD (approximately N85,000 in Nigerian currency).
“I want to score as many goals as possible at this U17 World Cup and with new Nike boots, I’m confident to score many goals,” Osimhen pointedly told Egbaiyelo who was fondly called within the Golden Eaglets‘ family as Government or Pathfinder as circumstances demanded.
At first glance, Osimhen’s request appeared as challenging as finding a needle in a haystack, especially considering the lack of provisions for even basic necessities, let alone his bold ask. However, with the ingenuity and resourcefulness of “The Pathfinder,” funds were procured. Together with this writer, a grey-coloured Nike Silver Storm Pack was acquired in Santiago City Centre for Osimhen. Upon receiving his beloved new pair of soccer shoes, his joy radiated like that of a child receiving his first toy.
The breakthrough at Chile 2015
The next day, Osimhen started his goal account at Chile 2015, scoring the second goal after Chukwudi Agor’s opener in a 2-0 win against the USA. The abiding image from that encounter at the Estadio Nacional Julio Martinez was that of Osimhen as he raced down the side-lines to prostrate before coach Emmanuel Amuneke who then offered his ward a symbolic handshake.
“I prostrated for coach Amuneke because of what he actually told me before we left the dressing room for the pitch and that was the first time he said such to me,” the energetic striker told this writer. He (Amuneke) told me: ‘Victor, I trust you and I know you will score’ and that really touched me. So, after I scored, I did that to appreciate him for all what he has done to make me a better player.”
Afterwards, from Santiago to Coquimbo, Concepcion, and finally to Vina del Mar, where Nigeria triumphed over Mali with a resounding 2-0 victory, marking the second all-African final match in the competition’s history.
Throughout Chile 2015, everyone’s attention was captivated by the beanpole teenager, Victor Osimhen, renowned for his remarkable goal-scoring prowess. Osimhen went on to establish a new tournament record, netting an impressive 10 goals in a single FIFA U-17 World Cup championship. This accomplishment surpassed the longstanding record of nine goals in a single tournament jointly held by Florent Sinama Pongolle of France and Souleymane Coulibaly of Ivory Coast.
With his overall outstanding performance for the Golden Eaglets’ class of 2015, Osimhen stands among the top three strikers ever to pass through the national U-17 team conveyor belt in recent times. His total record boasts 51 goals in 79 matches (64.5%), a remarkable achievement slightly trailing behind predecessors such as Leicester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho and former Watford striker Success Isaac, currently with Udinese. Iheanacho scored 35 goals in 49 matches (71.4%), while Isaac notched 33 goals in 49 matches (67.3%) during their time with the 2013 FIFA U-17 World Cup-winning team in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Following his standout performances at Chile 2015, Osimhen became the most sought-after teenager, attracting attention after Nigeria’s World Cup triumph. Guided by his benefactors, Ariyo Igbayilola and Shira Yusuf, he ultimately joined Wolfsburg, the club of former Nigeria international striker Jonathan Akpoborie, in the German Bundesliga. Despite his reputation from Chile 2015, Osimhen found himself mostly relegated to the bench at the Volkswagen Arena due to an injury. His two-season stint at Wolfsburg ended with a less-than-impressive record of 14 matches, comprising 12 Bundesliga games, two German Cup matches, and one inconsequential game. During this period, he predominantly served as a substitute and failed to register a single goal to his credit.
“I wasn’t disturbed in any way by some of the negative comments and stuff that were written about me during my period at Wolfsburg,” noted Osimhen, who hawked sachet water on the streets of Lagos in his formative years. “Some journalists speculated so much about my career, but the truth was that I was even sick at some point at Wolfsburg; it took me about three weeks to come out of that sickness and I really thank God for my life,” he added.
From Wolfsburg to Charleroi
Transitioning from Wolfsburg to Charleroi, Osimhen, initially perceived as a disappointment in the Bundesliga, faced a turning point in his career. In 2018, he was loaned to Charleroi, a Belgian club, and subsequently made the move permanent. Despite the challenges in Germany, Osimhen acknowledges that the Teutonic lifestyle and experiences there played a crucial role in preparing him for the greater successes that lay ahead.
“I learnt a lot in terms of football and life at Wolfsburg because I was surrounded by good people,” admitted Osimhen, whose favourite songs include that of American singer, Kelly’s ‘I believe I Can Fly.’ “I perfectly understood almost 90% of the way they played in Germany because I wanted to learn and improve on my quality and that was the main reason I actually went to Wolfsburg. They have one of the best facilities in the world at Wolfsburg and Germany is one of the most powerful countries in the world.
“Everything, and I mean about everything, is different from where I was coming from; the first five months were very strange to me because the mentality is different. But luckily, I met this wonderful French guy of African origin and I mean Joshua Guilavogui who has been with Wolfsburg for three years; he really assisted me in settling down to a new life in Europe. He was my guardian all through my stay at Wolfsburg and it was a great experience because I was able to increase my knowledge. Aside playing football, I can now live in any European country on my own without difficulties because my mentality is great, very great.”
Even greater opportunities awaited Osimhen as he transitioned from the Bundesliga to Belgium. Expressing his delight, he scored on his first full debut for Charleroi, known as Les Zebres (The Zebras), in an away match against Waasland-Beveren on September 22, 2019. His remarkable back-heel goal generated widespread attention and buzz in Europe and beyond.
‘God is good’
“It was a great feeling for me to get my first league goal in Europe after two years,” Osimhen, which means ‘God is good’ in his native Ishan vernacular in Esan South East Local Government Area of Edo State of Nigeria, told The Nation. “I’m really happy because I have been working hard; and I think the hard work has started paying off again. I really want to thank God because this goal is important for me, my family and all my loved ones.”
Throughout his time in Belgium, Osimhen carried the values instilled in him from his humble beginnings on the streets of Lagos. Drawing from his experiences, he embraced principles of perseverance and determination. Notably, the message on his WhatsApp display photo during that period encapsulated his mind-set with three powerful words: Focus, Hustle, Believe. “I actually received the display photo on my WhatsApp as a message from one of my fans and this means so much to me because it summed up the philosophy of my life,” Osimhen offered then, and added: “Strangely, I’ve not met this great fan of mine but he perfectly understood all what I went through at Wolfsburg; he kept urging me to work hard and asked me to put the picture at a place I can see every day. That picture has been on my WhatsApp logo for over one year now and it’s going to be there for a while and I may probably not even change it. I believe I can achieve all that I conceive in my mind with focus and that means, I have to continue to hustle and believe that God will certainly bless my efforts.”
Osimhen’s journey to Europe was a gradual process, originating from his early days in Lagos, where he began his football career with a local team now known as Perick Academy. He later moved on to the modest Ultimate Strikers Football Club. His breakthrough came when he joined Ultimate FC, catching the attention of talent scouts while en route to the 2015 CAF Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations in Niger. Osimhen emerged as the top scorer in the tournament, netting four goals in six matches and securing qualification for the Amuneke-led U-17 national team to the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile. Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Osimhen emphasised the resilient and hardworking mentality instilled in him during his upbringing. “One of the things that have helped me so far in my football career and life was the kind of mentality I grew up with because I grew up with both male and female that worked as if they were warriors.
“My brother (Andrew Osimhen) was a great motivation for me because I saw him waking up as early as 4:00 am to go out and hustle. I picked up this strong mentality from the neighbourhood (Olusosun) because nobody was ready to give you anything, not even a stick of match because you’re always reminded about the need to work for everything. That attitude has stayed with me over the years and my life has been a life of struggle. But this mentality is helping me now because what would stop me from hustling now if I did the same when I was kid?”
From Charleroi to Lille
After making 36 appearances for Charleroi, scoring 20 goals, and earning distinctions such as the record-breaking fastest goal in the history of the Belgian First Division A, Osimhen made another significant move in 2019.
Joining French Ligue 1 side Lille, he was heralded as the “new offensive reinforcement for LOSC.” True to this description, Osimhen made an impactful debut, scoring a brace against Nantes. He concluded the season as Lille’s top scorer with 13 goals in domestic league matches and 18 goals across all competitions, including a memorable UEFA Champions League goal against Chelsea, the club of his admired mentor, Didier Drogba, then under the management of Frank Lampard.
“In the preparation for this game, I have been watching his (Osimhen) performances for the season and now I know his story as well,” Lampard admitted despite his side’s 2-1 win. “He’s hugely impressive and I thought he (Osimhen) was really good. He is fast; he has everything and I think it was tough for us to play against him so I wish him well. His story is great where he has come from, where he is now and it looks like a fantastic career ahead of him,” added Lampard.
During his time at LOSC, Osimhen received the prestigious 2020 Prix Marc Vivien Foe, an accolade bestowed upon the best African player in the French Championship. Additionally, he earned the title of Lille’s Player of the Season, securing the highest number of votes from the fans.
Between Drogba and Osimhen
Naturally, fans initiated comparisons between Osimhen and Drogba, drawing parallels to Drogba’s beginnings in Ligue 1 before achieving legendary status in the English Premier League (EPL) with Chelsea. “I’d compare him to Didier Drogba. He really makes me think of him. He has the same profile. He can do everything and he’s phenomenally powerful,” Charleroi goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau said then.
Osimhen told The Nation: “Over the years, my choice of a soccer role model has not changed and it has always been Didier Drogba. He comes first but I keep learning from all the great strikers that have come out of Africa; the likes of Samuel Eto’o, El Hadji Diouf, Odion Ighalo, Mohammed Salah, Sadio Mane. I’m really happy to have watched all these great strikers because I’ve learned so much from them, but kudos to Didier Drogba because all that I’ve learned watching him during his playing years have really set my path for the kind of player I want to be.”
These comparisons speak volumes of both his approach having been known for his elite finishing, pace, strength and athleticism to attract huge transfer interest from some of Europe’s top clubs.
Cult hero in Naples
In 2020, Osimhen made a historic move to Napoli from Lille for a club-record fee of €70 million, marking the most expensive African transfer to date. While he enjoyed a relatively successful first two seasons between 2020 and 2022 at the Diego Maradona Stadium, scoring a cumulative 28 goals in 62 matches in all competitions, Osimhen’s career took a remarkable turn in the 2023/23 season. Despite missing the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon due to a skull and eye socket fracture in November 2022, which led to him wearing a protective mask often referred to as a ‘masked assassin’ by sections of the media, Osimhen’s astounding feat of scoring 26 goals in 32 Serie A matches played a pivotal role in Napoli clinching their first Italian Serie A title in 33 years.
Simultaneously, Osimhen exhibited exceptional prowess with the Super Eagles during the qualifying campaign for the upcoming 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire. His striking contributions were outstanding, tallying an impressive 10 goals, with four of them coming in a resounding 10-0 victory over Sao Tome & Principe – a historic record for the largest winning margin in a qualifier for the competition.
Osimhen as a record breaker
His exceptional performance in the 2022-2023 season positioned him as the highest-scoring African player in Serie A, amassing an impressive 47 goals and surpassing the long-standing record of 46 goals held by former Liberian international and AC Milan legend, George Weah. Additionally, Osimhen made history as the first African to be crowned the Italian Serie A top scorer, known as The Capocannoniere. His accomplishments extended to the international stage as well, securing the 8th position in the 2023 Ballon d’Or rankings, making it the first time a Nigerian player entered the prestigious top ten of the annual individual awards. The crowning achievement came with Osimhen being honoured as the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) Footballer of the Year at the Gran Gal del Calcio held in Milan on December 4th, 2023.
“Thank you @grangadelcalcioaic for the recognition and awards, thank you my family, friends and supporters for your votes and unending support,” Osimhen, who will be 25 on December 29, said on his Instagram Page, adding: “God is the Greatest.”
Magic moment in Marrakech
The pinnacle of his career unfolded on December 11 when he was crowned the 2023 men’s African Player of the Year at the prestigious awards gala in Marrakech, Morocco. Osimhen triumphed over formidable contenders that included Paris Saint-Germain’s Morocco right-back, Achraf Hakimi, and Liverpool’s Egypt winger, Mohamed Salah; securing the top honour in recognition of his outstanding achievements.
“First of all, I want to say thank you, God, for everything,” Osimhen, the first Nigerian to win the continental prize since Nwankwo Kanu did in 1999 and the first former CAF Youth Player to be so honoured, said in an emotion-laden voice. “Special thanks go to Mr. Emmanuel Amuneke. Without him, I don’t think I would be standing in front of you guys holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football.
“I appreciate Nigerians for their support, and I appreciate Africa for putting me on the map, and for encouraging and defending me regardless of my shortcomings. Thank you so much to Emmanuel Adebayor for his encouragement, Solomon Kalu, I appreciate you, and every African legend that I looked up to while growing up that inspired me, can’t forget Didier Drogba, my role model.”
Even the recently departed foreign trainer of the Super Eagles, German coach Gernot Rohr, acknowledged that Osimhen possesses a talent that transcends, believing that his unwavering commitment and passion for the game could propel him to become one of the greatest players ever to emerge from Africa.
“I’m so happy that Osimhen got the Africa Best Player Award of 2023 because he truly deserves it after scoring so many goals and played so well (for club and country),” the 70 -year-old Rohr who now manages The Cheetahs of Benin Republic, told The Nation. “He was 17 when I first saw him; and drafted him to the Super Eagles in my very first match with Tanzania and a lot of people were surprised.
“Again, many were also surprised when I took him to the 2019 AFCON in Egypt but he showed later all the qualities. This boy is still the same; humble, working hard and staying always modest which is a good sign for a big player (desirous to be the greatest),” noted the vastly travelled Rohr who had previously worked in Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon before his tour of duty in Nigeria between 2016 and 2022.
OSIMHEN: THE NUMBER GAME THROUGH THE YEARS
0 – Number of goals Victor Osimhen scored during his stint at German Bundesliga side VfL Wolfsburg where he featured in 14 official matches over two seasons.
1 – Osimhen bagged his first CAF Africa’s Footballer of the Year prize on December 11, 2023 in Marrakech, Morocco, after seeing off stiff challenge from Liverpool’s Muhamed Salah of Egypt and PSG’s Achraf Hakimi of Morocco. He has also been feted once as the Serie A Footballer of the Year after his goals helped Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years in the 2022/23 season.
2 – The number of trophies already won by Osimhen with Nigeria national teams; namely, the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile and the 2015 Total CAF U-23 Africa Nations Cup in Senegal.
3 – The number of individual awards won by Osimhen in 2015 after his goals helped the Golden Eaglets of Nigeria to win their record fifth title at the U-17 FIFA World Cup in Chile and these were the Golden Boot as top scorer; Silver Ball as the second Most Valuable Player (MVP); and CAF Youth Player of the Year in the 2015 annual CAF Awards.
10 – The number of goals scored at the FIFA World Cup Chile 2015, when he broke the long-standing record of nine goals in a single tournament that was previously jointly held by Frenchman Florent Sinama Pongolle and Ivorian Souleymane Coulibaly. He also topped the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifying tournament with a record 10 goals.
20 – The number of goals scored in 36 matches by Osimhen at Belgian club, Charleroi, while on a season-long loan deal from Wolfsburg.
26 – Number of goals scored in 32 Serie A matches in the 2022/23 season that crowned him as the first African to become Serie A top scorer, otherwise known as Capocannoniere.
27 – Osimhen, who got his first international cap under coach Gernot Rohr after he came on as a second half substitute for Ahmed Musa in the 3-0 thrashing of Togo in a friendly match at the Stade Municipal de Saint Leu La Foret in Paris on 1st June 2017, now has 27 caps with an impressive 20 goals to his name ahead of the 2023 AFCON in Cote d’Ivoire.
47 – Numbers of goals Osimhen has scored to become the highest scoring African player in Serie A as he eclipsed the 46-goal record previously held by AC Milan legend, George Weah of Liberia.
Source: The Nation
