Victor Osimhen, the Rise of a King: Why Nigerian Football Now Revolves Around One Man

Where there is Victor Osimhen, there is belief. Not just goals, not just noise in the stands, but genuine hope. For Nigeria, that feeling has returned in full force at this Africa Cup of Nations, where the Super Eagles have marched relentlessly into the semi-finals with a perfect record and one unmistakable figure leading the charge.

At 27, Osimhen is no longer simply Nigeria’s star striker. He is fast becoming the emotional centre of the national team, the player teammates lean on in moments of chaos and the man opponents fear long before kick-off. As Nigeria prepare to face hosts Morocco, it is increasingly clear why many are already calling him the new king of Nigerian football.

Osimhen and the AFCON Journey That Defines Leadership

Nigeria’s run to the last four has been impressive on paper: five games, five wins, authority in almost every performance. Osimhen’s fingerprints are everywhere. Four goals so far place him joint second in the tournament’s scoring charts, level with Mohamed Salah and just behind Morocco’s Brahim Diaz. Numbers alone, however, do not tell the full story.

This has not been a smooth ride. The Super Eagles have faced moments of tension, most notably during the emphatic 4-0 last-16 win over Mozambique. What should have been a celebration turned briefly uncomfortable when Osimhen clashed with Ademola Lookman on the pitch. The striker’s frustration was visible, raw and impossible to ignore. He wanted the ball, believed he was in a better position, and made that clear. He even motioned to the bench for a substitution, which duly followed.

When Osimhen headed straight down the tunnel at full-time, headlines wrote themselves. Whispers of unrest, rumours of a threatened walkout, questions about unity. Nigeria quickly shut those claims down, and Osimhen himself moved to calm the situation. Inside the camp, the issue was resolved almost immediately.

Those close to him insist that moment, far from revealing a flaw, actually explains why Osimhen is so vital. He demands standards. He refuses to drift. That edge, they say, is inseparable from his greatness.

Why Osimhen’s Fire Is Not Selfishness

Victor Osimhen in a Napoli shirt

To label Osimhen selfish is to misunderstand him. Former Nigeria captain William Troost-Ekong, who knows the striker well, describes someone driven by survival as much as ambition.

Osimhen’s childhood in Lagos was brutally hard. Orphaned young, he sold bottled water in traffic to survive, while helping support his siblings. Hunger, in every sense of the word, shaped him long before football ever did.

Troost-Ekong has spoken openly about how those experiences forged Osimhen’s personality. He is first to everything. First in the box. First to challenge. First to push the limits. Even away from the pitch, that instinct never switches off. It is not greed; it is habit. It is survival.

That relentless nature, teammates say, lifts standards. It pulls others forward. Osimhen’s anger is rarely about ego. It is about winning.

Closing in on History: Osimhen and the Yekini Record

Osimhen now sits on 35 goals in 50 appearances for Nigeria. Just two more will see him draw level with the late Rashidi Yekini, the Super Eagles’ all-time leading scorer and one of African football’s most revered figures.

Yet Osimhen himself speaks about the record with humility. There is no chest-thumping, no public countdown.

“It doesn’t matter if I equal or surpass it,” he has said. “Rashidi Yekini is the best striker the Super Eagles have ever produced.”

That respect matters in Nigeria. It resonates deeply with fans and former players alike. Troost-Ekong believes that mentality says everything about Osimhen’s character. He wants history, yes, but not at the expense of reverence.

What Osimhen wants more than numbers is silverware. Nigeria’s last AFCON triumph came over a decade ago. This generation, scarred by failure to qualify for the upcoming World Cup, is desperate to give something back. Osimhen is desperate to lead it.

“They See Him as a Leader” – Osimhen’s Status in the Squad

He may not wear the captain’s armband, but Osimhen’s authority is unquestioned. Nigerian football journalist Oluwashina Okeleji describes him as the gravitational force of the team.

“When he’s not there, Nigeria seems to crumble,” Okeleji says. “Everything goes through him.”

This leadership was visible long before senior football. Osimhen had been earmarked for greatness since his under-17 days, when his raw talent was matched by an intensity far beyond his years. Now, with experience added to hunger, he commands respect effortlessly.

Teammates look to him not just for goals, but for direction. His presence changes the mood, the confidence, the belief. In a tournament defined by pressure, that matters as much as tactics.

Osimhen’s Club Career: Goals Follow Everywhere

Osimhen’s rise has been relentless. His breakout season at Lille in 2019-20 announced him to Europe, with 18 goals earning a big-money move to Napoli. In Italy, he transformed from prospect into global star.

The 2022-23 season was historic. Osimhen’s 26 goals powered Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years. Along the way, he surpassed George Weah to become the highest-scoring African in the league’s history. Naples fell in love with him. Africa took notice.

When his time in Italy ended, Galatasaray moved decisively. Initially on loan, Osimhen tore through Turkish defences, scoring 26 goals in 30 games as Galatasaray completed a league and cup double. Now a permanent player, he remains just as lethal, continuing to terrorise back lines with power, pace and an unrelenting appetite for goals.

Osimhen, Nigeria and the Meaning of a Crown

For Osimhen, greatness has never been about comfort. It has always been about struggle, resilience and proving something to himself. That is why this AFCON feels different. Why his intensity is sharper. Why his leadership feels heavier.

Nigeria stand two matches away from glory. Morocco await, followed potentially by one final hurdle. Osimhen knows what this would mean. Not just personally, but nationally.

If Nigeria lift the trophy, his coronation will feel inevitable. Even if the record falls along the way, that will be secondary. In Nigerian football, kings are crowned not by goals alone, but by moments that unite a nation.

Right now, everything points towards Victor Osimhen standing at the centre of that story.

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