Olusosun to Stardom: How Victor Osimhen Survived Lagos Slums to Become King in Italy, Photos

• Victor Osimhen was the hero as Napoli secured their first Serie A title since 1990
• The Nigerian international scored the equalizer as the Partenopei played out a 1-1 draw with Udinese away from home
• The result means Napoli are now champions of Italy, and it is the first league title for Osimhen, who moved from selling water from the Olusosun area of Lagos to becoming Serie A champion

‘Ijaya Olusosun’, as Victor Osimhen is fondly called among his peers in the Ojota area of Lagos, Nigeria, has proven that poverty is not intrinsically a trap.

After three seasons in Italy, the Nigerian international has led Napoli to the prestigious Serie A title, which has eluded the club for over three decades - they are already praising him like Diego Maradona.

Having started his career with local club Ultimate Strikers Academy, the striker, who has played in Germany, Belgium, and France, will now be crowned champion in Italy.

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From selling water in Lagos traffic to becoming the most expensive African footballer in history, here is the story of Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen.

Growing up in Olusosun

Olusosun, a landfill site, is located in the Ojota area of Lagos State, Nigeria. It was established in 1992 and covers about 42.7 hectares, with an average of 1000 000 tons of waste being collected annually.

“Here in Olusosun, people develop at their own pace,” Alhaji Semiu Olusola Yusuf, the secretary of the ‘Baale in Council’ of the area, told Sports Brief.

He added: “Osimhen was born here. I knew the mother and the father. I know all his siblings; he lived somewhere around Anisere Street."

“His background was not a fantastic one, thank God for his life that took him up and gave him the talent.”

A man who identified himself as Fatai Bello, popularly known as Baba Musiliu, added that the footballer is much loved in the area.

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“We love him so much in this area. This is because he has been amazing to the community. We are lucky he grew up in this community. He is so humble to both the elderly and the younger.

Selling water as a means of survival

The Napoli star once admitted that life was tough for himself and his siblings. He disclosed that he resorted to selling water on the streets in their bid to survive. He said via Sun News:

“I came from a very poor background, seven children, and I was the last born. I lost my mom at the age of six, and it was very difficult for my family because my dad also lost his job around that period. So I was forced to go out and get myself a life.

“In Lagos, they sell water (bottle or sachet) which is the easiest, but the hardest because you have to run and give somebody the water and collect money.”

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Following a visit to the Olusosun community, a trader who lives opposite Osimhen’s former house added that the lad also helped her in selling bread. 'Mama Oke' added that he ran errands for her.

"He is very responsible. Anytime I’m heading to the bakery, I'll call on Victor to help me carry bread. Before her death, his mother sold sachet water. It was tough for them."

Life changing moment for Osimhen

A young Osimhen began with the neighbourhood club Ultimate Strikers, where he dazzled before being scouted to represent Nigeria at the 2015 FIFA U17 World Cup in Chile.

After scoring four goals in the group stage, the then 16-year-old netted a hat-trick against Australia in the Round of 16 and then scored a goal each in the quarter-final, semi-final and final, to set the record as the player with the most goals (10) at the tournament.

Having led Nigeria to the title, Osimhen was immediately handed a pre-contract by German club VfL Wolfsburg.

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Professional contract

As soon as he clocked 18, the youngster signed a three-and-a-half-year deal with the club until 2020, but he could manage just 14 league games before being shipped out on loan to Belgian side Charleroi.

After one season, Osimhen received a permanent offer, having impressed the club hierarchy.

In 2019, he joined Lille for €12million and at the end of the season, the Nigerian was awarded Lille's Player of the Season, having secured the highest number of votes from fans.

Journey to Serie A title

Following his exploits for French club Lille after scoring 18 goals in 38 matches, Osimhen caught the eye of Gennaro Gattuso, the then-manager of Napoli.

He became the Serie A club's record signing after joining for an initial €50 million plus add-ons in the summer of 2020.

His first season was marred by injury and COVID-19 complications, but the striker still managed to score ten goals in 24 league matches.

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Osimhen then netted 14 goals in his second season with the Partenopei. However, in the 2022/2023 season, the Nigerian international has netted 22 league goals so far as Napoli are now Serie A champions, including the all-important equalizer against Udinese that secured the Serie A title for Napoli.

It is the first Scudetto for the club in more than three decades. The last time Napoli were crowned Italian champions was during 1989-1990 when the legendary Diego Armando Maradona was the star of the club.

Balotelli hails Osimhen

Sports Brief earlier reported that Italian striker Mario Balotelli has ranked Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen among the next generation of great players after the era of legendary Lionel Messi.

The former Manchester City striker also tipped AC Milan’s Rafael Leao to reach the level of Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland.

Balotelli stated that Osimhen and Leao could reach the height of world-class players if they maintain their focus.