Victor Osimhen's rise: From Lagos streets to Napoli's star – Nigeria's hope for AFCON glory
Rising from the ashes of an infamous Lagos dumping site to becoming the golden boot of Nigeria, Victor Osimhen is the epitome of a modern-day Cinderella. Can the Napoli striker lead the Super Eagles to glory at the African Cup of Nations?
Football
Graduating from the school of hard knocks, Victor Osimhen had to earn a living selling water sachets on the streets of Lagos and scavenging for shoes and football cleats at the infamous Olusosun Landfill. To add to his misfortune, Osimhen lost his mother at an early age while he and his six siblings supported each other after their father lost his job.
“As a young boy who came from the streets of Olusosun, who had to hawk in traffic almost every day of the week while growing up in order to survive the numerous challenges my family and I were facing, becoming a treasure in Africa and world football was a wild dream,” Osimhen said in a post on X.
His incredible journey continues at the African Cup of Nations. Can he lead the Super Eagles to the title in Ivory Coast?
“We are capable of winning this tournament because the squad is packed with players who are performing exceptionally well for their European clubs,” Osimhen told AFP.
Victor Osimhen: Rising from ashes into the limelight
Osimhen’s football talents provided the launching pad for a fairytale rise out of Olusosun, an impoverished community at the foot of one of Africa’s largest dumping sites. The Napoli forward has since emerged as a global superstar and a prolific scorer for his club and country.
The 25-year-old is expected to be a talisman in the Super Eagles’ bid for a fourth **CAF Africa Cup of Nations. **
The Nigerian national side reached the tournament in emphatic fashion courtesy of an Osimhen hat-trick in their 6-0 triumph over Sao Tome in their final 2023 Afcon qualifier. His performance launched him into fourth place on Nigeria’s all-time goal-scoring list. Osimhen contributed five goals in four Afcon qualification matches.
With 20 goals in 26 appearances since making his national debut in 2017, Osimhen is the highest-scoring active Nigerian player, trailing the second-placed Segun Odegbami by three. Rashidi Yekini is at the top of the list with the 37 he scored between 1984 and 1998.
Napoli's Victor Osimhen is one of the stars to watch at the Africa Cup of Nations 2023.
Victor Osimhen: Betting on the Super Eagles
Osimhen was feeling bullish about his team’s prospects of triumphing in Ivory Coast and, in the process, making up for their disappointment of missing out on the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Super Eagles fell short as Ghana advanced courtesy of away goals in their 1-1 draw in Nigeria.
“All of us are desperate to make up for failing to reach the 2022 World Cup. The only way we can achieve that goal is by winning the Cup of Nations.”
Osimhen’s heroics are not limited to the national team but extend to his duties for Italian giants Napoli, where his insatiable appetite for goals helped secure the club’s first Serie A Championship title (Scudetto) in 33 years.
He scored the championship-winning goal in their draw against Udinese and drew the curtain on a spectacular season, hitting the back of the net 26 times during the 2022/23 season. Lifting the title, Osimhen became only the third Nigerian to win the Scudetto while also usurping Cameroonian Samuel Eto’o as the African with the most goals in a single Serie A season.
Victor Osimhen: Africa's best
Osimhen was richly rewarded for his breakthrough season. He earned the 2023 African Footballer of the Year crown, beating Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi for the top accolade.
“Losing my dear parents in the course of this journey leaves a scar in my heart as they have always been my major driving force for success since I was a kid. May their souls continue to rest in peace,” he said on X.
“Winning the CAF Best African Player 2023 is a testament of my hard work, your love and support. I am so proud of myself for achieving this prestigious award. I am sure my parents in heaven are smiling at me. This is for you.”
Last season was a culmination of a Cinderella football story that started back in 2015 when Osimhen first demonstrated a temperament for the big stage. Osimhen led Nigeria to a record fifth title at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, scoring 10 goals throughout the tournament, earning him the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards.
Although Osimhen initially battled to find his feet in the transition from the age-group ranks to the seniors due to injuries and form, he has bloomed, making lasting impacts playing for Sporting Charleroi (Belgium) and Lille (France) before joining Napoli.
Still only in his mid-20s, Osimhen is predicted to have an even brighter future on the global stage. The striker is a star on a mission.