Jump to content

Victor Osimhen

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Victor James Osimhen)

Victor Osimhen
Osimhen with Nigeria in 2024
Personal information
Full name Victor James Osimhen[1]
Date of birth (1998-12-29) 29 December 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Lagos, Nigeria
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
Galatasaray
(on loan from Napoli)
Number 45
Youth career
?–2017 Ultimate Strikers Academy
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2019 VfL Wolfsburg 14 (0)
2018–2019Charleroi (loan) 25 (12)
2019 Charleroi 0 (0)
2019–2020 Lille 27 (13)
2020– Napoli 108 (65)
2024–Galatasaray (loan) 6 (6)
International career
2015 Nigeria U17 7 (10)
2015–2019 Nigeria U23 4 (3)
2017– Nigeria 39 (23)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Nigeria
Africa Cup of Nations
Runner-up 2023 Ivory Coast
Third place 2019 Egypt
Africa U-23 Cup of Nations
Winner 2015 Senegal
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Winner 2015 Chile
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:26, 10 November 2024 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:00, 18 November 2024 (UTC)

Victor James Osimhen MON MFR (born 29 December 1998) is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Süper Lig club Galatasaray, on loan from Serie A club Napoli, and the Nigeria national team. Regarded as one of the best strikers in the world, he is known for his finishing, intelligence, pace, strength and athleticism.[3]

Born in Nigeria, Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017.[4] Following a season and a half at the club, he moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan in 2018–19, before moving to Ligue 1 with Lille, scoring eighteen goals in his sole season with the French club.

In 2020, Osimhen transferred to Serie A side Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million, and won the Serie A Best Young Player award in the 2021–22 season. In the following campaign, he finished as the league's top scorer with 26 goals, a record-high for an African player, as he helped Napoli win a first Serie A title for 33 years. For his efforts, he won the league's Best Striker award, before also being named Serie A Footballer of the Year a few months later. Osimhen is currently the highest scoring African player in the history of Serie A.[5][6]

Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won.[7] He made his senior international debut in June 2017, and played at the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019 and 2023. His impacts off and on the pitch with other members of the team made them reach the final of the African Cup of Nations in 2023 of which they lost to the host country Ivory Coast. He is currently the joint-second all-time highest goalscorer of the Nigeria national team.[8] On 29 May 2023, Osimhen was made a Member of the Federal Republic by President Muhammadu Buhari.[9]

Osimhen finished in eighth place at the 2023 Ballon d'Or ceremony, becoming the first Nigerian to make the top ten of the French award.[10] He was also named the African Footballer of the Year at the 2023 CAF Awards, the first Nigerian to receive this honour since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.[11]

Early life

[edit]

Osimhen was born on 29 December 1998 in Lagos, the youngest of six siblings. His parents are from Edo State and are of the Esan ethnic group of Nigeria.[12] He grew up in the Olusosun area in Oregun/Ojota of Lagos State, where he was born. Growing up, his footballing idol was Didier Drogba.[13]

Club career

[edit]

Osimhen started his career at the Ultimate Strikers Academy, based in Lagos, Nigeria. In January 2016, after being noticed for his performances at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, Osimhen committed to a pre-contract with VfL Wolfsburg, stipulating that he would officially join the club in January 2017.[14][15][16][17]

VfL Wolfsburg

[edit]

2017–18: First seasons in Europe

[edit]

On 5 January 2017, Osimhen officially signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club, lasting until June 2020.[18][19] Out with an injury upon his arrival,[20] he made his Bundesliga debut for Wolfsburg on 13 May, coming on as a substitute in the 59th minute in a 1–1 draw against Borussia Mönchengladbach.[21] Osimhen also came on the following week in a pivotal relegation tie against Hamburger SV, on what was the final match day of the 2016–17 season. He replaced defender Sebastian Jung with the score tied 1–1, and Hamburg scored a late winner to pass Wolfsburg in the table, sending Wolfsburg to a relegation playoff with Eintracht Braunschweig. Osimhen was in the squad for both matches, receiving a cameo at the end of the second leg with Wolfsburg's participation in the next Bundesliga confirmed, as they won 2–0 on aggregate.

Osimhen was named in 12 of the 17 matchday squads in the first half of the 2017–18 season, appearing in 5 games. He earned his full Bundesliga debut on 28 January 2018 against Hannover, playing the full 90 minutes in their 1–0 win.[22] Osimhen made two more starts the rest of the campaign, playing the full match against Werder Bremen on 11 February and being replaced at the half by Daniel Didavi against Hertha Berlin on 31 March. Wolfsburg were again in the relegation playoff, but Osimhen missed out through injury. He also appeared in one game of Wolfsburg's DFB Pokal campaign, replacing midfielder Josuha Guilavogui for the last ten minutes of their 1–0 defeat to Schalke in the quarter-final. Osimhen underwent shoulder surgery on 2 May, ending his season with 12 appearances in the Bundesliga to his name.[23]

2018–19: Loan to Charleroi

[edit]

Osimhen had summer trials with Belgian clubs Zulte Waregem and Club Brugge, who were the reigning champions. However, a summer bout with malaria had affected his physical condition, and neither club decided to take him on loan.[24] On 22 August 2018, Osimhen joined Belgian club Charleroi on a season-long loan deal, having failed to score in any of his 16 appearances with Wolfsburg.[25] He replaced the departed Kaveh Rezaei, who was sold to Club Brugge after scoring 3 goals in the first three games of the season.[26] Osimhen made his debut on 1 September against Excel Mouscron, entering as a late substitute for Jérémy Perbet. Osimhen made his full debut on 22 September, scoring his first goal as a professional with a backheel against Waasland-Beveren.[27] Waasland-Beveren would equalise against 10-man Charleroi, and Perbet would later get sent off in the game as well, aiding manager Felice Mazzu's selection up top. Osimhen would start with Adama Niane for the next four games, scoring the club's only goal in losses to Cercle Brugge and Gent. He also scored twice in the last five minutes in a 3–2 win over Zulte Waregem on 21 October, after Hamdi Harbaoui had given Waregem a 2–1 lead with a second half brace.[28] Osimhen was not dropped from the side until 25 November, when he scored a goal off the bench in the club's 4–2 win over Lokeren. After the game, Osimhen told BBC Sport that he had "found his happiness again".[29] Osimhen finished the first half with 8 goals in 16 games, second only to Cristian Benavente in the team.

After a successful spell with the Belgian side, playing 36 games and scoring 20 goals, Charleroi activated their option to acquire Osimhen following his satisfactory performances while on loan.[30]

Lille

[edit]
Osimhen playing for Lille in 2019

Despite being a reported target of several European clubs, French Ligue 1 club Lille confirmed the transfer of Osimhen on 1 August 2019, signing a five-year contract.[31] The transfer fee was reported to be priced at €12 million plus another €3 million in various bonuses and add-ons.[32][33] Upon his arrival, he told the club's official website: "Lille is a very good club which has a quality project and high-class players, and especially these last years. Great Nigerian players (Peter Odemwingie and Vincent Enyeama) have also played here."[34][35] Osimhen was given the number 7, which was previously worn by Rafael Leão.[36]

Ten days after the move, he made his Ligue 1 debut for the club on 11 August, scoring a brace in a 2–1 win against Nantes.[37] Two weeks later, he scored another brace in a 3–0 home win against Saint-Étienne for his third game in France, his performance earning him a rating of 8/10 in French sports newspaper L'Équipe.[38]

Osimhen was named the Ligue 1 Player of the Month for September 2019, having scored two goals and assisted two more in Lille's five league matches.[39] He then scored his first goal in the UEFA Champions League on 2 October 2019, coming in a 1–2 home defeat to English side Chelsea.[40] In March, a report published by the league showed that Osimhen was the player who has most broken the 35 km/h (21.75 mph) barrier with seven sprints above this speed, ahead of Kylian Mbappé.[41] The Nigerian finished the season as Lille's top scorer, with 13 goals in 25 domestic championship matches, and 18 goals across all competitions.[42]

His good season and strong goalscoring performances earned him the 2020 Prix Marc-Vivien Foé, a prize awarded to the best African player in the French championship,[43] and saw Osimhen tipped by many to be in running for the African Footballer of the Year award in the near future.[44] On 2 June 2020, he was awarded Lille's Player of the Season, having secured the highest number of votes from fans.[45]

Napoli

[edit]

2020–22: First seasons adjustments

[edit]

On 31 July 2020, Serie A club Napoli announced the signing of Osimhen,[46] for a club-record fee of €70 million potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons, making him the most expensive African transfer to date.[47] On 17 October, Osimhen scored his first goal for Napoli in a 4–1 win against Atalanta. Upon scoring, he held up a shirt calling for the ending of the ongoing police brutality in his home country of Nigeria.[48]

On 13 November, during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game played whilst on international break with Nigeria, Osimhen was stretchered off injured.[49] This was then diagnosed as a shoulder injury that would keep Osimhen away from the playing field for two months. While recovering from the injury, Osimhen was authorised by his club to spend time in his home country, where he got a chance to celebrate his birthday. It was during these birthday celebrations that it is believed Osimhen contracted the COVID-19 virus, as he tested positive upon returning to Naples.[50] This positive test, together with his shoulder injury, kept Osimhen away from action until his return to the side on 29 January 2021, when he was subbed on for around twenty minutes of Napoli's Coppa Italia win against Spezia.[51]

On 16 September 2021, Osimhen scored a brace in a 2–2 away draw against Leicester City in the Europa League group stage.[52] In November 2021, Osimhen suffered a horrific head injury and a fractured skull and eye socket in Napoli's 3–2 loss to Inter Milan at San Siro.[53] He underwent immediate surgery and was forced to miss the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon.[54] He has been wearing a protective mask since due to risks posed by playing without it and he stated in an interview that he would play in it for the rest of his career, and by the end of the season, he scored 14 goals in Serie A and 18 in all competitions.[55][56]

2022–23: Breakthrough, Capocannoniere and Serie A title

[edit]
Osimhen playing for Napoli in 2023

On 12 October 2022, Osimhen scored his first Champions League goal with Napoli in a 4–2 win over Ajax, which secured their qualification to the knockout phase.[57] On 29 October, he scored his first Serie A hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Sassuolo.[58] On 11 November, he scored a goal and assisted another to help Napoli win 2–1 at Atalanta, becoming Nigeria's highest goal scorer in the Italian Serie A with 32 goals, and surpassing Simy's record of 31.[59]

On 13 January 2023, Osimhen scored two and assisted another as Napoli beat Juventus 5–1.[60] On 17 February 2023, he scored his 100th career goal to help Napoli win 2–0 at Sassuolo.[61] He also became the first ever player in the history of Napoli in the three-point era to score in seven league games in a row.[62] In the Champions League round of 16, Osimhen scored three goals over two legs for Napoli against Eintracht Frankfurt, which ended in a 5–0 win on aggregate and a first-time qualification to the quarter-finals.[63]

On 4 May 2023, he scored the equaliser in a 1–1 draw with Udinese, confirming Napoli as Serie A champions for the first time in 33 years.[64] His goal made him the joint-highest goalscoring African in the Serie A alongside George Weah and the African player with the most goals in a single Italian championship season, breaking Samuel Eto'o's record in the process.[5] Three days later, he scored the winning goal from a penalty in a 1–0 victory over Fiorentina, to become the highest scoring African player in Serie A with 47 goals, overtaking Weah's record.[65][66] He finished the season as top scorer with 26 goals, to be the first African to achieve this feat.[67]

2023–24: Contract renewal

[edit]

On 19 August 2023, Osimhen opened the regular season with Napoli by scoring a brace against newly promoted Frosinone in a 3–1 victory.[68] A hamstring injury during Nigeria's 2–2 friendly draw to Saudi Arabia on 16 October 2023 caused him to miss four regular season games and two Champions League group stage matches.[69] He returned on 25 November 2023 and assisted Eljif Elmas' winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Atalanta.[70] Osimhen scored his first goal of the 2023–24 Champions League campaign in the final group stage match in a 2–0 victory over Braga on 12 December 2023, securing Napoli's progression to the knockout stages over the Portuguese side.[71]

On 23 December 2023, Osimhen extended his contract with Napoli until 2026, with a new release clause set at €130 million.[72] Later the same day, Osimhen was sent off with a second yellow card against Roma with the score at 1–0 in Roma's favor, and Napoli would go on to lose 2–0 following a goal by Romelu Lukaku. This meant that he would not be able to play in the last game of the season before his international call-up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.[73] On 28 February 2024, he scored a hat-trick in a 6–1 away win over Sassuolo, thus becoming the third player to score at least ten goals in Serie A in four consecutive seasons at Napoli, following Diego Maradona and Attila Sallustro.[74]

2024–25: Loan to Galatasaray

[edit]

Over the course of the summer transfer window, there was much speculation that Osimhen would leave Napoli with Al-Ahli, Chelsea, and PSG all heavily linked with the player.[75] On 30 August 2024, it was reported that Osimhen had agreed a deal with Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli but the deal fell through after Napoli changed their asking price for his permanent transfer away.[76] Instead, Al-Ahli signed Brentford striker Ivan Toney.[77] The same day, a proposed move to Chelsea also fell through as the player was not able to agree to a deal with the Premier League side.[78] On 31 August, Osimhen was excluded from Napoli's Serie A squad for the season and stripped of his number, with the shirt being handed to new signing Romelu Lukaku instead.[79]

On 3 September, Turkish Süper Lig club Galatasaray opened talks to take Osimhen on loan until the end of the 2024–25 season.[80] The next day, Galatasaray announced the completion of their loan signing of Osimhen.[81][82] On 28 September, Osimhen scored his first goals for the club when he netted a brace in the first half of a 3–3 draw with Kasımpaşa. At the end of the first half Osimhen suffered an injury and was replaced by Dries Mertens.[83] Osimhen scored his first goals in Europe for Galatasaray following his transfer from Napoli, scoring a first half brace within eight minutes as they beat Tottenham 3–2 in the league phase of the Europa League.[84]

International career

[edit]

Osimhen was a member of the Nigeria under-17 team that won the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile.[85] He scored 10 goals in seven games at the tournament and won the Golden Boot and Silver Ball awards.[86] His performances also earned him the CAF Youth Player of the Year award in 2015.[87]

Osimhen made his official senior debut for Nigeria in a 2–0 defeat against South Africa on 10 June 2017.[88] He missed out on Nigeria's 2018 FIFA World Cup campaign after his inconsistent season at Wolfsburg.[27] Following a successful start to his loan spell at Charleroi, he was recalled by Gernot Rohr for the November 2018 international break,[89] starting their friendly win over Uganda.[29]

In March 2019, Osimhen was released from the Super Eagles squad to represent the Nigerian U23 side as they were two goals down against their Libyan opponent. He scored three goals in the return match against Libya in Asaba.[90]

Osimhen was listed in coach Gernot Rohr's 25-man provisional list for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations tournament in Egypt[91] and was further listed in the final list for the tournament.[92][93] In the match for third place, he replaced the injured Odion Ighalo at half-time in the team's 1–0 victory over Tunisia.[94] He played a total of 45 mins at the tournament.[95]

The Super Eagles ended the 2021 AFCON qualifiers on a high, beating Lesotho 3–0.[96] However, Osimhen missed the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations supposedly due to COVID-19 as claimed by his club. This claim provoked a response from a sport lawyer in Nigeria who wrote to express his dismay to the alleged intention of Osimhen's club side, Napoli, to deprive Nigeria the services of their star striker.[97] The Napoli owner, Aurelio De Laurentiis, angered many Africans, when he said he would no longer sign African players unless they agreed to sign a waiver to not participate in the AFCON.[98]

Osimhen started the qualification for the 2023 AFCON qualifiers in sparkling form helping Nigeria win both of their first two matches. Osimhen netted a goal against Sierra Leone and another four goals in a 10–0 win against São Tomé and Príncipe. Osimhen's super hat-trick, was his first senior international hat-trick for the Super Eagles.[99] In the reverse fixture played at the Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo on 10 September 2023, Osimhen scored his second international hat-trick in Nigeria's 6–0 win against São Tomé and Principe, finishing the 2023 AFCON qualifiers as top scorer with 10 goals.[100][101]

In December 2023, he was called up for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations in Ivory Coast.[102] He netted a goal in the opening match against Equatorial Guinea which ended in a 1–1 draw.[103]

Player profile

[edit]

Style of play

[edit]
Osimhen scoring a goal for Lille in 2019

Osimhen is known for his explosive pace, strong aerial ability, and clinical finishing in front of goal. His speed and agility make him a constant threat to opposition defenses, allowing him to create scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates. Osimhen is a right-footed centre-forward known for his presence, athleticism, strength, directness, runs into space,[104] eye for goal and linkup play. At 185 cm, he has good holdup play. He also relies on pace to beat opponents.

Osimhen's physicality and ability to hold up the ball make him an effective target man, capable of bringing others into play and contributing to the build-up of attacking moves. His composure in front of goal and ability to convert chances from various positions make him a valuable asset for his teams.

In addition to his goal-scoring prowess, Osimhen's work rate and willingness to press opponents make him an active contributor to his team's defensive efforts.

Overall, Osimhen's playing style is characterised by a combination of speed, strength, and technical ability, making him a formidable presence on the field.[105]

Reception

[edit]

Osimhen is widely regarded as one of the best centre-forwards and football player in European football and the world.[106][107] He has been compared to fellow young strikers Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland. Opta Analyst wrote: "Among that early-prime age group, Victor Osimhen is arguably near the top".[108] His manager at Napoli, Luciano Spalletti, described him as "such a great striker"[104] and "the complete package".[109] In December 2022, Francesco Totti called him "the best striker in Serie A".[110] In January 2023, Romelu Lukaku described him as "the best striker".[111] Fellow Nigerian forward Odion Ighalo hailed him as "the future of Nigerian football".[109] After Osimhen scored in Napoli's 2–1 win over Roma in January 2023, former Brazil and Napoli striker Careca said: "In that goal, I saw something similar to Pelé".[109]

Osimhen has named Didier Drogba as one of his influences.[112]

Personal life

[edit]

Osimhen is a Christian.[113] He has stated that he has drawn inspiration from Sadio Mané, who helps his community in Senegal, and has said he wants to help disabled people throughout Africa.[114] Osimhen announced the birth of his first child, a daughter named Haly, born in October 2022.[115]

Career statistics

[edit]

Club

[edit]
As of match played 10 November 2024[116]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
VfL Wolfsburg 2016–17 Bundesliga 2 0 0 0 1[c] 0 3 0
2017–18 Bundesliga 12 0 1 0 13 0
Total 14 0 1 0 1 0 16 0
Charleroi (loan) 2018–19 Belgian Pro League 25 12 2 1 9[d] 7 36 20
Total 25 12 2 1 9 7 36 20
Lille 2019–20 Ligue 1 27 13 3 1 3 2 5[e] 2 38 18
Total 27 13 3 1 3 2 5 2 38 18
Napoli 2020–21 Serie A 24 10 3 0 3[f] 0 0 0 30 10
2021–22 Serie A 27 14 0 0 5[f] 4 32 18
2022–23 Serie A 32 26 1 0 6[e] 5 39 31
2023–24 Serie A 25 15 1 0 6[e] 2 0 0 32 17
Total 108 65 5 0 20 11 0 0 133 76
Galatasaray (loan) 2024–25 Süper Lig 6 6 0 0 3[f] 2 9 8
Career total 180 96 11 2 3 2 28 15 10 7 232 122
  1. ^ Includes DFB-Pokal, Belgian Cup, Coupe de France, Coppa Italia
  2. ^ Includes Coupe de la Ligue
  3. ^ Appearance in Bundesliga relegation play-offs
  4. ^ Appearances in Belgian Pro League European play-offs
  5. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ a b c Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

[edit]
As of match played 18 November 2024[117]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Nigeria 2017 2 0
2018 1 0
2019 7 4
2020 1 1
2021 8 5
2022 4 5
2023 5 5
2024 11 3
Total 39 23
Scores and results list Nigeria's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Osimhen goal.
List of international goals scored by Victor Osimhen
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 September 2019 Dnipro-Arena, Dnipro, Ukraine  Ukraine 2–0 2–2 Friendly
2 13 November 2019 Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria  Benin 1–1 2–1 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
3 17 November 2019 Setsoto Stadium, Maseru, Lesotho  Lesotho 3–1 4–2 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
4 4–1
5 13 November 2020 Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City, Nigeria  Sierra Leone 2–0 4–4 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
6 30 March 2021 Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria  Lesotho 1–0 3–0 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
7 7 September 2021 Estádio Municipal Adérito Sena, Mindelo, Cape Verde  Cape Verde 1–1 2–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 10 October 2021 Limbe Stadium, Limbe, Cameroon  Central African Republic 2–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 13 November 2021 Stade Ibn Batouta, Tangier, Morocco  Liberia 1–0 2–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 16 November 2021 Teslim Balogun Stadium, Lagos, Nigeria  Cape Verde 1–0 1–1 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 9 June 2022 Moshood Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, Nigeria  Sierra Leone 2–1 2–1 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
12 13 June 2022 Stade Adrar, Agadir, Morocco  São Tomé and Príncipe 1–0 10–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
13 4–0
14 8–0
15 9–0
16 18 June 2023 Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex, Monrovia, Liberia  Sierra Leone 1–0 3–2 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
17 2–0
18 10 September 2023 Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria  São Tomé and Príncipe 1–0 6–0 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
19 4–0
20 5–0
21 14 January 2024 Alassane Ouattara Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast  Equatorial Guinea 1–1 1–1 2023 Africa Cup of Nations
22 7 September 2024 Godswill Akpabio International Stadium, Uyo, Nigeria  Benin 2–0 3–0 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
23 14 November 2024 Félix Houphouët-Boigny Stadium, Abidjan, Ivory Coast  Benin 1–1 1–1 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification

Honours

[edit]

Napoli

Nigeria U23

Nigeria U17

Nigeria

Individual

Orders

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Kenya" (PDF). Confederation of African Football. 15 June 2019. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
  2. ^ "Victor Osimhen". WorldFootball.net. Archived from the original on 1 February 2023. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  3. ^
  4. ^ "13 facts about Victor Osimhen". Goal.com. 25 March 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  5. ^ a b "Osimhen equals Goerge Weah and surpasses Eto'o to create Serie A history". Pulse Sports. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 5 May 2023.
  6. ^ "Victor Osimhen Biography, Net Worth, Salary, Stats, Age, Height, Parents, Siblings, Girlfriend". NewsOnline Newspaper. 22 May 2023. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  7. ^ Uzodinma, Emmanuel (9 November 2015). "FIFA U-17 World Cup: Osimhen wins Golden Boot, Nwakali emerges MVP". Daily Post Nigeria. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  8. ^ "How many goals has Osimhen scored for Nigeria?". Goal.com. 14 June 2022. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
  9. ^ "Full List Special Nigeria National Honours Awards 2023". Premium Times NG. 29 May 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  10. ^ "2023 Ballon d'Or: Victor Osimhen Ranked 8th Best Player". Retrieved 30 October 2023.
  11. ^ Adewale, Abiodun (11 December 2023). "Osimhen breaks 24-year Nigeria jinx, claims CAF POTY award". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  12. ^ "How Victor Osimhen Wrote His Name in Naples History". okayafricasite. Retrieved 22 May 2024.
  13. ^ "Didier Drogba is my idol - Nigeria U17 striker Victor Osimhen". ESPN. 28 October 2015. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  14. ^ "Wolfsjokokokpkpn deal for young Nigerian Victor Osimhen". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Wolfsburg reach agreement with Victor Osimhen". Goal.com. Perform Group. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  16. ^ "Wolfsburg snap up Nigeria's U17 World Cup star Victor Osimhen". ESPN FC. ESPN Inc. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  17. ^ "Victor Osimhen scores on Wolfsburg debut". Goal.com. Perform Group. 7 October 2016. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  18. ^ "Wolfsburg sign Nigerian teenage striker Victor Osimhen". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 5 January 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  19. ^ "Victor Osimhen: Wolfsburg switch was right move to begin my career". ESPN FC. ESPN Inc. 6 January 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2019. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  20. ^ "Wolfsburg Coach Gives Key Update On Victor Osimhen Injury Status". Own Goal Nigeria. 24 February 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  21. ^ "Nigeria wonderkid Victor Osimhen makes Wolfsburg debut". Goal.com. Perform Group. 13 May 2017. Archived from the original on 1 July 2017. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  22. ^ Adewoye, Gbenga (29 January 2018). "Wolfsburg's Victor Osimhen revels in full Bundesliga debut". Goal. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  23. ^ Lior, Tal (3 May 2018). "Nach Schulterluxation: Victor Osimhen wurde erfolgreich operiert". 90min. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  24. ^ "LIET CLUB BRUGGE GOUDHAANTJE DOOR DE VINGERS GLIPPEN?". Voetbal België. 10 November 2018. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  25. ^ Craig, Anthony (23 August 2018). "Nigeria's Victor Osimhen moves for first-team football". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 15 September 2018.
  26. ^ Jacques, Maxime (22 August 2018). "Charleroi tient déjà le remplaçant de Rezaei: Victor Osimhen!". La DH. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  27. ^ a b Abodunrin, Morakinyo (30 September 2018). "VICTOR OSIMHEN: Struggle has been my life". The Nation. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  28. ^ Chukwu, Solace (23 October 2018). "Osimhen's revenge: Is former youth striker finally ready for the next level?". Goal. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  29. ^ a b Okeleji, Oluwashina (26 November 2018). "Osimhen says Charleroi loan has restored his confidence". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  30. ^ Sporting Charleroi sign Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen permanently from Wolfsburg Archived 17 November 2022 at the Wayback Machine, goal.com, 31 May 2019
  31. ^ Okeleji, Oluwashina (1 August 2019). "Victor Osimhen: Nigeria striker excited to join Lille's project". BBC Sport. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2019.
  32. ^ Sulola, Remi (1 August 2019). "Osimhen pens five-year deal with Enyeama's former club, Lille". TheCable. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  33. ^ "Victor Osimhen signe au LOSC". So Foot (in French). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  34. ^ "Le Super Eagle, Victor Osimhen au LOSC !". LOSC (in French). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  35. ^ "LOSC : Victor Osimhen, l'attaquant du Sporting de Charleroi, a signé". France 3 Hauts-de-France (in French). 1 August 2019. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  36. ^ "Osimhen: Why I Chose Number 7 Jersey At Lille; Reveals Love For Amuneke". Complete Sports. 6 January 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  37. ^ "Lille vs. Nantes - 11 August 2019". Soccerway. 11 August 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  38. ^ Lions, Bernard; Ghazi, Bilel (28 August 2019). "Les notes de Lille - Saint-Étienne : Osimhen brille encore". L'Équipe (in French). Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  39. ^ "Victor Osimhen: Nigerian wins French Player of the Month award". BBC Sport. 18 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  40. ^ "Willian volleyed home the winning goal on his 300th appearance in a Chelsea shirt as Frank Lampard's side edged out Lille 2-1". The Guardian. 2 October 2019. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  41. ^ "Top speed: Delort, Osimhen and Sarr". LFP. 27 March 2020. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
  42. ^ "Victor Osimhen:The Nigerian Prodigy". crossbarhub.com. 4 May 2020. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  43. ^ Fitzpatrick, Michael (29 June 2020). "Lille's Victor Osimhen named best African footballer in France". RFI. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  44. ^ "Victor Osimhen will win the African Player of the year soon – Elahor". Soccerhub. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 31 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  45. ^ "Victor Osimhen wins Lille's player of the year award". Sporting Life. Ejiro Babafemi. 3 June 2020. Archived from the original on 1 November 2021. Retrieved 28 August 2020.
  46. ^ "Welcome, Osimhen!". SSC Napoli. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 25 October 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  47. ^ "Napoli sign Nigeria forward Osimhen from Lille". ESPN. 31 July 2020. Archived from the original on 3 August 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  48. ^ "Napoli's Osimhen celebrates maiden Serie A goal with 'End Police Brutality' shirt". goal.com. 17 October 2020. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 18 October 2020.
  49. ^ "Nigeria's Osimhen stretchered off in agony after suffering wrist injury against Sierra Leone | Goal.com". Goal.com. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  50. ^ "Napoli striker Victor Osimhen test positive for Covid-19". BBC News Pidgin. 1 January 2021. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  51. ^ "Osimhen returns to action in Napoli's win over Spezia in Coppa Italia". 29 January 2021. Archived from the original on 21 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021.
  52. ^ "Leicester 2–2 Napoli". UEFA. 16 September 2021.
  53. ^ Odetokun, Elijah (8 April 2023). "Victor Osimhen: Napoli Striker Opens Up on Horror Face Injury That Left Him Wearing Mask". SportsBrief. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  54. ^ "Victor Osimhen and agony of missing Cameroon 2022 AFCON". The Guardian Nigeria News. 4 January 2022. Retrieved 8 May 2023.
  55. ^ Sharma, Abhinav (15 March 2023). "How many goals has Victor Osimhen scored during his career? Napoli hitman's stats in full". Goal.com.
  56. ^ Obisesan, Joseph (16 January 2024). "Exclusive: Why Victor Osimhen Will Wear a Mask for the Rest of His Career". Brila. Retrieved 25 September 2024.
  57. ^ "Nigeria's Osimhen on target as perfect Napoli beats Ajax 4-2 to reach CL last 16". ahram.org. 12 October 2022.
  58. ^ "Osimhen Nets First League Hat-trick As Napoli Extend Seria A Lead". The Heritage Times. 29 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  59. ^ "VIDEO: Victor Osimhen becomes Nigeria's highest goal scorer in Serie A". SportsRation. 5 November 2022. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2022.
  60. ^ Ryan, Danny (14 January 2023). "Victor Osimhen: Napoli star accidentally punched Juventus midfielder". GiveMeSport.
  61. ^ "Osimhen nets landmark goal, makes history in Napoli win". SportsRation. 17 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  62. ^ "Watch as Victor Osimhen joins century club, & enters Napoli's history book with a superb goal". SportsRation. 17 February 2023. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  63. ^ Drury, Sam (15 March 2023). "Napoli 3–0 Eintracht Frankfurt". BBC Sport.
  64. ^ a b "Napoli win Serie A for first time in 33 years". BBC Sport. 4 May 2023. Retrieved 4 May 2023.
  65. ^ "Osimhen breaks George Weah's record, becomes highest scoring African in Serie A". TheCable. 7 May 2023.
  66. ^ "Meet Victor Osimhen, The Most Wanted Striker In The World". SoccerBrief. 17 June 2023. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  67. ^ a b Campanale, Susy (4 June 2023). "Osimhen shatters records as Capocannoniere". Football Italia. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  68. ^ Christian, Nick (20 August 2023). "FROSINONE 1-3 NAPOLI: VICTOR OSIMHEN HITS DOUBLE AS NAPOLI BEGIN SERIE A TITLE DEFENCE WITH WIN". Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  69. ^ "Napoli striker Osimhen suffers hamstring injury". Reuters. 16 October 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  70. ^ "Napoli up to third with win against Atalanta on Mazzarri's debut". Reuters. 25 November 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  71. ^ "Osimhen on target as Napoli see off Braga to reach Champions League knockouts". Vanguard. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  72. ^ "Osimhen commits to Napoli with new big money deal". France 24. 23 December 2023. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  73. ^ Agberebi, James (28 December 2023). "Osimhen 'forgiven' for red card incident, says Napoli coach". The Guardian. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  74. ^ "Victor Osimhen makes Napoli history in hat-trick against Sassuolo". OneFootball. 28 February 2024.
  75. ^ "PSG reach agreement with Victor Osimhen but face competition from Chelsea and Al-Ahli". Yahoo Sports. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  76. ^ "Victor Osimhen's relationship with Napoli 'completely broken' after Serie A giants cause €160m Al-Ahli move to fall through over €5m payment". Goal. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  77. ^ "Ivan Toney destined for Saudi after late Al-Ahli bid for Victor Osimhen falls through". Telegraph. 30 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  78. ^ "Report: Why Chelsea's move for Victor Osimhen collapsed". Yahoo Sports. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  79. ^ "Victor Osimhen brutally cut from Napoli squad for Serie A & stripped of shirt number as it's handed to Romelu Lukaku amid rift after failed Chelsea & Al-Ahli transfers". Goal. 31 August 2024. Retrieved 31 August 2024.
  80. ^ "Victor Osimhen'in geçici transferi konusunda görüşmelere başlandı". galatasaray.org (in Turkish). Galatasaray SK. 3 September 2024.
  81. ^ "Victor Osimhen Galatasaray'da!". Galatasaray SK. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  82. ^ "Galatasaray'a hoş geldin Victor Osimhen!". Galatasaray SK. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
  83. ^ "GENİŞ ÖZET | Galatasaray 3-3 Kasımpaşa". beIN Sports (in Turkish). 28 September 2024. Retrieved 1 October 2024.
  84. ^ "Man United ends winless run in Europe and Osimhen scores 2 as Galatasaray beats Tottenham". Yahoo Sports. 7 November 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  85. ^ a b "Golden Eaglets retain their crown". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 8 November 2015. Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  86. ^ a b c "Osimhen and Nigeria the big winners". FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association. 9 November 2015. Archived from the original on 5 December 2015. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
  87. ^ a b "Osimhen wins Youth Player of the Year". Confederation of African Football. 7 January 2016. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2017.
  88. ^ "Victor Osimhen". national-football-teams.com (in German). Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  89. ^ Abayomi, Tosin (15 November 2018). "5 things to know about Super Eagles returnee Victor Osimhen". Pulse. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 25 December 2018.
  90. ^ Adewoye, Gbenga (26 March 2019). "Hat-trick Victor Osimhen 'overwhelmed' with his performance against Libya". Goal. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  91. ^ "Mikel, Osimhen make provisional AFCON squad". The Guardian Nigeria. 14 May 2019. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  92. ^ "Africa Cup of Nations: Iheanacho left out of Nigeria squad". 9 June 2019. Archived from the original on 4 July 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  93. ^ Shittu, Ibitoye (11 June 2019). "AFCON 2019: Iwobi, Ndidi, 18 other Nigerian stars who will be making debut". Legit.ng. Archived from the original on 1 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  94. ^ "Tunisia 0–1 Nigeria: Africa Cup of Nations third-place play-off". BBC Sport. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 22 July 2019. Retrieved 25 July 2019.
  95. ^ "Osimhen, Onyekuru battle to replace Ighalo". Vanguard News. 27 July 2019. Archived from the original on 27 July 2019. Retrieved 9 August 2019.
  96. ^ Akpodonor, Gowon (31 March 2021). "Super Eagles end qualifying series on high, beat Lesotho 3-0". The Guardian Nigeria. Archived from the original on 7 November 2021. Retrieved 7 November 2021.
  97. ^ "Victor Osimhen and agony of missing Cameroon 2022 AFCON". The Guardian Nigeria. 4 January 2022. Archived from the original on 25 April 2022. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  98. ^ Horncastle, Anthony Hay and James. "Napoli president wants players to agree to not take part in AFCON". The Athletic. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  99. ^ "Nigeria secure record win in AFCON qualifying". ESPN. 13 June 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2023. Retrieved 24 February 2023.
  100. ^ Okogba, Emmanuel (10 September 2023). "AFCONQ: Osimhen grabs hat-trick as Nigeria hit six past Sao Tome". Vanguard NG. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  101. ^ a b "2023 AFCON Qualifiers top goal-scorers". Goal Ball Live. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  102. ^ Olu Ibidapo, Ayodele (29 December 2023). "Peseiro names 25 players as Super Eagles seek fourth AFCON title in Cote d'Ivoire". Nigeria Football Federation. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  103. ^ "Osimhen scores as Nigeria held by Equatorial Guinea". France 24. 14 January 2024.
  104. ^ a b "VICTOR OSIMHEN". The Coaches' Voice. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  105. ^ "Analysing Victor Osimhen: The Nigerian Monster". Breaking the Lines. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  106. ^ "Top 10 most valuable players in the world: Osimhen joint seventh along with Arsenal's record signing in history | All Nigeria Soccer". allnigeriasoccer.com. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  107. ^ "Where did Super Eagles star Osimhen rank at Best FIFA Football Awards?". afrik-foot.com. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  108. ^ Mohamed, Mohamed (29 September 2022). "Victor Osimhen: The Off-Ball Dynamo". Opta Analyst. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  109. ^ a b c Chilton, Rob (15 February 2023). "Everybody's Talking About Victor Osimhen". GQ Middle East. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  110. ^ "Osimhen 'the best striker in Serie A' – AS Roma legend Totti praises Nigeria international". Goal.com. 16 December 2022. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  111. ^ "Lukaku: Osimhen 'the best striker' right now – Belgium striker sings Nigeria international's praises". Goal.com. 1 January 2023. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  112. ^ "'He was an example for me': Osimhen names Drogba as his idol growing up". Tribuna. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
  113. ^ Rapheal (16 July 2022). "Osimhen's future hangs, begs God for direction". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 3 May 2023.
  114. ^ "I am inspired by Sadio Mane -Victor Osimhen". The Nation Newspaper. 18 March 2023.
  115. ^ Rapheal (26 December 2022). "Osimhen: I don't think about racism, I focus on goals scoring". The Sun Nigeria. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
  116. ^ "Victor Osimhen » Club matches". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 13 December 2023.
  117. ^ "Victor Osimhen Internationals". WorldFootball.net. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
  118. ^ Stevens, Rob (11 February 2024). "Nigeria 1–2 Ivory Coast". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  119. ^ "Tunisia 0–1 Nigeria". BBC. 17 July 2019. Archived from the original on 27 February 2021. Retrieved 18 July 2019.
  120. ^ Oni, Kolade (2 March 2015). "Eaglets' Osimhen is 2015 African U17 Championship highest goals scorer". Goal. Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  121. ^ "Victor Osimhen, Joueur Du Mois De Septembre!" [Victor Osimhen, Player of the Month of September!] (in French). UNFP. 17 October 2019. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 13 November 2019.
  122. ^ "Prix Marc-Vivien Foé 2020: Victor Osimhen, le sacre de la jeunesse" [Marc-Vivien Foé Prize 2020: Victor Osimhen, the coronation of youth]. RFI (in French). 29 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2020.
  123. ^ Evans, Jamie (1 August 2023). "ESM Team of the 2022-23 Season". World Soccer. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  124. ^ "The MVPs of the Serie A 2021/2022". Serie A. 20 May 2022. Archived from the original on 30 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  125. ^ "The MPSs of the Serie A 2022/2023". Serie A. 2 June 2023. Archived from the original on 2 June 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2023.
  126. ^ "Victor Osimhen EA Sports Player of the Month for March". Serie A. 29 March 2022. Archived from the original on 22 April 2022. Retrieved 29 March 2022.
  127. ^ "Victor Osimhen EA Sports Player Of The Month for January". Serie A. 10 February 2023. Archived from the original on 10 February 2023. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  128. ^ "Victor Osimhen Wins January's Goal of the Month Presented by Crypto.com". Serie A. 2 February 2023. Archived from the original on 2 February 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  129. ^ Bettoni, Lorenzo (17 November 2022). "Globe Soccer Awards: all the winners – Maldini, Osimhen, Ibra, Ancelotti, Salah and more". Football Italia. Archived from the original on 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  130. ^ "Consegna del premio sportivo a Victor James Osimhen". Stampa Estera. 6 March 2023. Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  131. ^ Çakir, Esma (6 March 2023). "Osimhen: İstanbul'da oynamak bir rüya". DHA | Demirören Haber Ajansı (in Turkish). Archived from the original on 8 March 2023. Retrieved 8 March 2023.
  132. ^ "Punchman Osimhen Shine at Nigeria Pitch Awards". Punch NG. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  133. ^ "Osimhen, Oshoala lead winners at the 9th Nigeria Pitch Awards". Premium Times NG. 26 March 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  134. ^ "Osimhen Wins Best African International at Ghana Football Awards". Guardian NG. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  135. ^ "Et le Dogue de la saison est..." [And the Master of the season is...] (in French). Lille OSC. 2 June 2020. Archived from the original on 17 November 2022. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  136. ^ "Osimhen, Oshoala named African Men's and Women's Player of the Year at the CAF Awards 2023". CAF. 12 November 2023. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  137. ^ Adewale, Abiodun (11 December 2023). "Osimhen breaks 24-year Nigeria jinx, claims CAF POTY award". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 12 December 2023.
  138. ^ a b "Gran Galà del Calcio: tutti i vincitori della serata LIVE". Sky Sport (in Italian). 4 December 2023. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  139. ^ Olorunfemi, Victor (29 May 2023). "MFR national honour delights Napoli striker Victor Osimhen". Peoples Gazette Nigeria. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
  140. ^ "Afcon: Ivory Coast and Nigeria players get cash, villas and honours". BBC News. 13 February 2024. Retrieved 24 February 2024.
[edit]