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Profile: Victor Osimhen, the Nigerian striker with heart of a lion

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Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who currently plays as a striker for Napoli in the Italian Serie A and the Nigerian national team. He was born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria, and began his professional football career at Ultimate Strikers Academy in Nigeria before moving to Wolfsburg in Germany in 2017.

Osimhen’s breakthrough came during the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where he scored 10 goals in the tournament and helped Nigeria win the trophy. This performance earned him the Golden Boot and the Silver Ball awards and put him on the radar of several European clubs.

After moving to Wolfsburg in 2017, Osimhen struggled to break into the first team and was loaned out to Belgian club Charleroi for the 2018/19 season. He impressed during his time in Belgium, scoring 20 goals in all competitions, and was named the club’s Player of the Season.

Osimhen’s performances caught the attention of French club Lille, who signed him in the summer of 2019. He had an excellent debut season in Ligue 1, scoring 18 goals in 38 appearances and helping Lille finish fourth in the league.

In July 2020, Osimhen signed for Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million. He struggled with injuries and COVID-19 in his first season in Italy but found his form in the second half of the 2021/22 season, scoring crucial goals in Napoli’s title-winning campaign.

Osimhen is known for his pace, power, and ability to finish with both feet. He is also a hard-working player who is willing to press high up the pitch and create space for his teammates. His physical presence and ability to hold the ball up make him a valuable asset to any team.

In addition to his success at club level, Osimhen has also represented Nigeria at international level. He made his debut for the Super Eagles in 2017 and has since scored 13 goals in 31 appearances. He was part of the Nigerian team that won the bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Off the pitch, Osimhen is known for his philanthropic work. He has donated money to support the families of those affected by the #EndSARS protests in Nigeria and has also contributed to the fight against COVID-19 in his home country.

Victor Osimhen is a talented young footballer with a bright future ahead of him. His performances for Napoli and Nigeria have earned him a reputation as one of the most exciting young strikers in world football, and he will be hoping to continue his success in the seasons to come.

Napoli is a football club with a rich history, but in recent years, they have struggled to compete with the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, and Inter Milan for the Serie A title. However, the 2021/22 season saw a resurgence in Napoli’s fortunes, and one player who played a pivotal role in their title triumph was Victor Osimhen.

Osimhen is a Nigerian striker who joined Napoli in the summer of 2020 for a club-record fee of €70 million. He arrived with high expectations, having scored 18 goals in his debut season for Lille in Ligue 1. However, his first season in Italy was marred by injuries and a bout of COVID-19, which limited his playing time and his impact on the team.

The 2021/22 season started off slowly for Osimhen, but he soon found his feet and began to contribute to the team’s success. His pace, power, and ability to finish with both feet made him a constant threat to opposition defenders. He scored crucial goals in important matches, including a brace against Sampdoria and a goal against Inter Milan, which helped Napoli secure a vital victory in the race for the Scudetto.

But Osimhen’s impact was not limited to his goalscoring exploits. He worked tirelessly for the team, pressing high up the pitch and creating space for his teammates. His physical presence and ability to hold the ball up also allowed Napoli to play a more direct style of football when needed.

Victor Osimhen is a Nigerian professional footballer who was born on December 29, 1998, in Lagos, Nigeria. He grew up in the poor suburbs of Lagos and began playing football on the streets as a young child.

At the age of 14, Osimhen was spotted by scouts from the Ultimate Strikers Academy in Lagos, and he joined the academy to further develop his skills. He quickly became one of the top players at the academy and was eventually noticed by scouts from Europe.

In 2016, Osimhen signed for the German club Wolfsburg, but he struggled to make an impact in his first season and was loaned out to Belgian club Charleroi for the 2018/19 season. He excelled in Belgium, scoring 20 goals in 36 appearances, and was named the club’s Player of the Year.

Osimhen’s performances in Belgium caught the eye of French club Lille, who signed him for a reported fee of €12 million in August 2019. He quickly established himself as one of Lille’s key players, scoring 18 goals and providing six assists in his debut season.

His impressive performances in France earned him a call-up to the Nigerian national team, and he made his debut in a friendly against Ukraine in September 2019. He has since become a regular member of the Super Eagles squad and was part of the team that won the bronze medal at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

Off the pitch, Osimhen has been involved in several charitable activities, including donating money and equipment to grassroots football clubs in Nigeria. He has also been an ambassador for the United Nations’ World Food Programme, helping to raise awareness about hunger and malnutrition in Africa.

In July 2020, Osimhen signed for Italian club Napoli for a reported fee of €70 million, making him the most expensive African player of all time. However, his time in Italy has been marred by injuries, and he has struggled to replicate the form he showed in France.

Despite his setbacks, Osimhen remains one of the most promising young talents in African football, and many believe that he has the potential to become one of the best strikers in the world.

Odion Ighalo described him as “…somebody who has the heart of a lion. He will try and put his head on any ball to try and score, I know that. He takes risks and I think it would be a feat for Man United, just in the same way this Argentina defender [Lisandro Martinez] – The Butcher… you see that guy going for every ball. He is similar to Osimhen.”

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