From the streets to stardom: Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen opens on life as a struggling kid in Lagos

Nigerian Super Eagles superstar, Victor Osimhen, has opened up about his roots and why he always returns to the tough neighborhood where he grew up in Lagos. 

Reflecting on his early life, Osimhen described spending most of his childhood in Olusosun, a place marked by severe challenges and poverty, as a “life I wouldn’t wish on anyone, not even my worst enemy.”

Despite his global success, in Europe and the Nigerian national team, the Super Eagles, Osimhen, who recently joined Galatasaray on a permanent transfer, cherishes revisiting his old neighborhood after each season. 

He explained that coming back allows him to reconnect with familiar faces and remember the struggles that shaped him, emphasising the critical support he received from his community and how these experiences forged his character and determination.

“So you have to fight to achieve whatsoever you want to achieve; it depends on how you want to rule your life. This has been the exact point,” Osimhen said in a video on YouTube. 

“A lot of them know me; they know how my family lived, especially after my mother passed away. I made it out of what I feel is more than just trenches.”

He stressed the importance of personally returning to inspire hope among the children still living there. 

“I want them to know there’s hope in everything. You just have to keep believing, keep praying mostly for grace and protection from God, and keep working hard at what you do best. I believe God will always come through.”

Osimhen recalled the emotional weight of leaving his home to pursue his dreams abroad, saying the journey from his neighborhood to Abuja and eventually beyond was overwhelming but necessary to transform his life.

His story is a reminder to determination, faith, and the enduring connection to one’s origins, inspiring many young Nigerians that no matter where they come from, success is possible with belief and hard work.