By Michael Odegbe
Victor Osimhen once scraped by through the gridlocked streets of Lagos, selling newspapers and bottled water just to feed his family. Today, at 26, he’s the star of the show, Nigeria’s most feared striker and a goal-scoring machine for Galatasaray, at the center of the Super Eagles’ quest for glory at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco.
Faced with a tough December Group C clash with Tanzania, Tunisia, and Uganda, expectations are sky-high, and rightly so. Osimhen is no longer just a striker; he’s a symbol of hope. Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle didn’t mince his words, declaring: “He’s the best striker in the world.” It’s bold praise, but many Nigerian fans would agree.
Nigeria boasts a wealth of attacking players, including Ademola Lookman, the African Footballer of the Year, but Osimhen remains the heart of the attack. His story is a classic African football fairy tale – dusty streets, impossible odds, and a steady rise to the top.
Osimhen has never hidden his past. In moving social media posts, he has spoken of growing up near a Lagos garbage dump and struggling with hunger and deprivation.
“I had to sell newspapers and bottles of water to help my family survive,” he once recalled.
This street kid will turn 27 on December 29th, just one day before Nigeria plays Uganda in their final group match of the Africa Cup of Nations. Perhaps it’s destiny.
His career nearly collapsed in 2015 when coach Emmanuel Amuneke left him out of Nigeria’s U-17 World Cup squad. However, after persistent pleas from his assistant coaches, Amuneke gave him a second chance, a decision that changed the history of Nigerian football. Osimhen scored 10 goals in seven matches, leading Nigeria to victory at the World Cup in Chile.
He never forgot that lifestyle. Years later, when receiving the African Footballer of the Year award in Rabat, Osimhen paid tribute:
“A special thank you goes to Emmanuel Amuneke. Without him, I don’t think I would be standing here today.”
Europe wasn’t immediately kind. Wolfsburg were struggling, goalless in 14 matches. But a loan spell at Charleroi reignited his fire, followed by a meteoric rise at Lille. Then came a €70 million move to Napoli in 2020, for which Osimhen repaid the favor by leading the club to their first Serie A title in 33 years.
Linked with Saudi Arabia, Chelsea, and PSG, Osimhen instead took an unexpected path to Galatasaray, and continued to score goals. He was equally prolific for Nigeria: 31 goals in 45 matches, including hat-tricks and decisive appearances in World Cup qualifying.
His absence was keenly felt when Nigeria crashed out of the 2026 World Cup race, losing on penalties to the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Osimhen was injured in stoppage time, and many fans blamed him for the moment.
Injuries followed him, including a broken cheekbone that forced him to wear a face mask, but they never stopped him.
From selling newspapers to becoming Africa’s greatest striker, Victor Osimhen’s story isn’t just about football. This is a story of resilience, second chances, and a nation daring to dream again. As the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations approaches, Nigeria will walk with faith because Osimhen is back, and history can be repeated.
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