The saying in sports, that “form is transient, but skill is permanent”, aptly describes the meteoric rise and chequred football career that SSC Napoli of Italy and Super Eagles of Nigeria striker, Victor James Osimhen has had.
From a very humble beginning when Osimhen was scouted in 2014 by Coach Emmanuel Amuneke from relative obscurity to sphearehead the attack-line of the Golden Eaglets team, for whom he scored ten (10) goals, to eventually win the Golden Boot as Nigeria won the 2015 FIFA Under-17 World Cup in Chile.
His exploits, as a potent scorer at the Cadet World Cup, endeared him to many clubs, but it was VfL Wolfsburg of Germany that eventually won the the race to have him signed the dotted lines.
But after 14 appearances for the Bundesliga side, he was loaned out to Charleroi FC of France, from 2019-2020; where his inherent skills and abilities as a potent goal scorer were rejuvenated; and by a combination of his relentless hard work and stroke of good fortune; he made a big move to Ligue 1 side, Lille Metropole in 2018.
Playing under Christophe Galtier, Osimhen’s career path and progression was completely turned around and on an irreversible ascendancy.
So, it was no surprise to have the 6ft 1inch striker, snapped up by SSC Napoli in 2020/21 and 2021/22 Serie A seasons. But a combination of injuries and his contracting Covid-19 twice in 2020, meant his unraveling form and qualities as a striker were unable to blossom, as envisaged.
But there was no holding down a talented player like Osimhen for too long; and other the supervision of Coach Luciano Spalletti, his career progressed astronomically and he played a key role by scoring vital goals as Napoli challenged for the Sccudetto, which they eventually lost to AC Milan in 2021/22; but were comforted with a place in the Uefa Champions League, the following season.
The 2022/23 season was the most productive for the 24-year-old who rose astronomically from the slums of Lagos, to become one of the best and powerful strikers. His top-notch athleticism and elitist finishing in front of goal made him a nightmare of several goalkeepers in the Italian top flight.
Match after match, he was a regular feature in the news, as his eye-catching goals are regularly reviewed; culminating to him resting several records in Serie A, and
of Napoli. The list of his accomplishments includes clinching the Serie A highest goal scorers award, best Serie A player of the season; while playing a cardinal role in bringing the Sccudetto back to the city of Naples; for the first time since the legendary Argentine, Diego Armando Maradona did so in 1990.
Other heights and recognition that accrued to his name within this same period includes, toppling George Opong Weah as the African with the most goals in the Serie A; scooping the Award reserved for the best foriegn sports personality in Italy; scoring his first goals in the Uefa Champions League; and being honoured with a national award (MFR) by former President Muhammadu Buhari.
But the one that is to come, will no doubt be the crowning glory as the Super Eagles look to right the wrongs of their failure to qualify for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, by winning the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, in Côte d’Ivoire. That tournament, holds in January 2024 in four Ivorian cities, and helping Nigeria win their fourth Afcon title, their first in a decade, will almost certainly seal for the gangling striker the highly coverted gong, as Africa Player of the Year, which has eluded Nigeria since Victor Ikpeba won it in 1997.
A breakdown of Osimhen’s 20 goals for Nigeria, so far shows that he scored
7 times against São Tomé and Principe;
4 against Sierra Leone; 3 versus Lesotho; and 2 against Cape Verdé.
He also netted a goal each, in games against Ukraine, the Republic of Benin; Liberia; and the Central African Republic; and no wonder even the great Cristiano Ronaldo has rated Osimhen in his current form as a top, top striker and finisher; even better than Erling Braut Haaland of Manchester City and Norway. According to the Portugal and Al Nassr of Saudi Arabia player, Osimhen is a better and more composed striker than Halland, but needs the perfect club to help him showcase his full potential, at the biggest stage in European club football.
The late Rashidi Yekini is by far Nigeria’s all-time leading top scorer with 37 goals, and is at least 14 goals ahead of Segun Odegbami who is second, at the moment with 27; and many pundits had predicted that the tally of Yekini will endure a little bit longer.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni another proven goal machine and ice-cold finisher for Maccabi Haifa of Israel, Everton and Portsmouth of England; is 3rd on that list, and netted 21 times in 57 games for Nigeria between 2000 and 2012. However, the only player in the current Super Eagles squad, that has demonstrated the consistency, flair and desire to hit the bull’s eye with goals, capable of surpassing the record held by the late Yekini is Victor Osimhen, who is now number 4 on the top 10 Super Eagles all-time highest goal scorers list.
Pundits have rated Osimhen as one of the very best striker of our time, and a world-class football talent, performing at a very high level for both club and country.
He is heavily backed to break Yekini’s record as the Super Eagles all-time highest goals scorer; considering his present tally of 20 goals; and the projection that he could still dawn the green and white colours of Nigeria, for the next seven (7) years.
The top ten which has lkechukwu Uche (5th),
Odion Ighalo (6th),
Obafemi Martins (7th)
Sunday Oyarekhua (8th) Samson Siasia (9th), and current Super Eagles captain, Ahmed Musa
Current Super Eagles captain, who in addition to being the most capped Super Eagles player in Nigerian football, is also tenth on the list.
The 30-year-old winger has scored 16 goals in 107 games since debuting for Nigeria in 2010.
