Sports
Victor Osimhen: From Lagos streets to ‘new King of Africa’
Victor Osimhen has been hailed as the “new king of Africa” after the Nigeria striker was named as the continent’s Footballer of the Year for 2023.
The 24-year-old Napoli man picked up the prize at the Confederation of African Football (Caf) awards on Monday night, seeing off competition from Egypt captain Mohamed Salah and Morocco defender Achraf Hakimi.
For Osimhen, who grew up on the dusty streets of Olusosun in Lagos, it is a “dream come true” after facing the stark reality of life as a child.
“I have to thank everybody who has helped me on this journey and all Africans who have helped to put me on the map despite my faults,” Osimhen said.
Greeted daily with the stench from a waste dump in his neighbourhood, Osimhen says he had a burning desire to succeed against all odds.
He had to sell newspapers and bottles of water, describing his situation as being “in the trenches”.
King Osimhen
“As a young boy who had to hawk in traffic almost every day in order to survive the numerous challenges my family and I were facing, becoming a treasure in Africa and world football was a wild dream,” he said in a message posted on X.
“My football journey has been a rollercoaster of highs, tough lows and emotions.
“The goals and jubilation of victories keep me going even when the critics, hate and pain of defeats hit me hard in the chest.”
After scoring 26 goals to help Napoli to a first Italian league title in 33 years, Osimhen became the first Nigerian to win the Caf’s men’s award since former Arsenal forward Nwankwo Kanu in 1999.
“What Osimhen has done is incredible,” ex-Arsenal and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor, who won the award in 2008, told Caf TV.
With former Ivory Coast striker Didier Drogba, himself a two-time Caf Footballer of the Year, describing the former Lille striker as Africa’s new footballing royalty, there are now hopes that he can spur Nigeria on to a new era of success.
Osimhen’s rise to the top has been a slow burn rather than the story of a one-season wonder.
Starring for Nigeria in their victorious 2015 Under-17 World Cup was the turning point in his career which indicated he was a child of destiny.
His 10 goals in Chile secured the golden boot and saw him named Caf’s Young Player of the Year – yet Osimhen almost missed out on selection for the squad.
“I had already overlooked him because he was paired with other players who played badly,” Emmanuel Amuneke, the coach of that side, told BBC Sport Africa.
“But my backroom staff noticed him and drew my attention to him. I gave him another chance and he proved himself to make the squad.”
It was no surprise that Osimhen, after receiving his Caf award in Morocco, praised his former coach for helping him fulfil his dreams.
“Special thanks goes to Emmanuel Amuneke. Without him, I don’t think I would be standing here holding one of the most prestigious awards in world football,” he said.
There have certainly been a few bumps along the way.
His move to German club Wolfsburg in January 2017 almost turned out to be a nightmare for the young prospect, who featured 16 times without scoring before a loan switch to Charleroi in Belgium in 2018-19 provided a lifeline.
Osimhen’s reputation was enhanced at Lille to the point that Napoli were reported to have paid $96m (£76.5m) – one of the highest fees ever for an African player – for his services in July 2020.
Before his stellar season which secured a historic Serie A title, he was forced to miss out on the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) because of Covid-19 and a facial injury which still requires him to play wearing a protective mask.
Moreover, he had to deal with the death of both his mother and father in 2020
“Losing my dear parents in the course of this journey leaves a scar in my heart as they have always been my major driving force for success,” Osimhen added in his post on X.
“To my wonderful family, thanks for always having my back and loving me so much. I wouldn’t have made it this far without your support.”
Liverpool forward Salah and former Reds team-mate Sadio Mane, both 31, had won the past four Caf awards between them, and Osimhen’s success in Marrakesh could herald the coming of the next generation.
Fellow Super Eagle Victor Boniface (Bayer Leverkusen), Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus (West Ham) and Guinea striker Serhou Guirassy (Stuttgart) have all made waves already this season.
Meanwhile, Nigeria fans hope Osimhen’s recognition could provide the impetus for the national side to challenge again for the Afcon trophy, which the West Africans last lifted in 2013.
The side failed to qualify for the finals in 2015 and 2017, finished third in 2019 and were knocked out in the last 16 in the 2021 edition in Cameroon.
“This recognition at the highest level is a massive shot in the arm for Nigeria football,” Abuja Football Association chairman Adam Muktar Mohammed told AFP.
“Evidently, there is an abundance of talent in Nigeria. We only have to harness this talent to be a major force in international football.”
Drogba – whom Osimhen has acknowledged as his idol growing up – believes Nigeria could certainly be a threat at the 2023 Afcon, which kicks off in Ivory Coast next month.
The Super Eagles have been drawn alongside the hosts, Equatorial Guinea and Guinea-Bissau in Group A at the finals.
“We are waiting for you in January,” Drogba added in his congratulatory message to Osimhen.
Should Osimhen get his hands on the Nations Cup trophy in Abidjan on 11 February, the adulation he has received in football-mad Nigeria since his coronation on Monday night will be pushed to new levels.
Culled from BBC Sports
Sports
Beyond the Trophy: Lessons in Success, Discipline and Integrity from Spain’s World Cup Triumph
By SP Daniel Ndukwe, Enugu State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO)
Forty-eight nations entered the 2026 FIFA World Cup with one dream—to become champions. By the final whistle, only Spain remained standing.
From the opening match, Spain played with purpose, discipline and confidence, displaying the qualities of a team determined to conquer the world. Their triumph was not built on luck, but on preparation, resilience and unwavering belief.
Spain’s journey to glory was far from easy.
They began the knockout stage with an emphatic 3–0 victory over Austria before edging Portugal 1–0 in a fiercely contested Round of 16 clash. The quarter-finals demanded even greater resolve as they battled past Belgium 2–1, while a composed and disciplined 2–0 victory over France in the semi-finals secured their place in the final.
Every step of the way tested their character, proving that champions are made by overcoming challenges, not avoiding them.
The final against Argentina was the ultimate examination. Facing one of the tournament’s finest teams, Spain remained calm under pressure, trusted their tactical approach and displayed remarkable teamwork.
Their hard-fought 1–0 victory crowned them deserving world champions and demonstrated that sustained success is the product of consistency, discipline and character.
Beyond the trophy lies a lesson for us all. Whether in sports, education, business or any other endeavour, lasting success is built on discipline, perseverance, integrity and honest effort.
Quick gains through crime or wrongdoing may seem tempting, but they inevitably lead to loss, regret and consequences. True victory belongs to those who choose the right path, remain steadfast through life’s challenges and earn their success honourably.
Shun crime. Reject criminality. Embrace hard work and integrity. The surest path to lasting success is the path of honesty.
About the Author
Daniel Ndukwe is a public relations and strategic communication practitioner, as well as a governance, social change and development specialist.
South African football has been thrown into mourning following the death of Bafana Bafana and Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Jayden Adams, who passed away at the age of 25, just weeks after representing his country at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The heartbreaking news was first reported by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano before being confirmed by several international media outlets, including The Guardian and BBC Sport. South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Gayton McKenzie, also paid tribute, describing Adams as one of the nation’s brightest football talents.
Adams earned widespread admiration during the World Cup for his courage and professionalism after playing in a key group-stage match against Czechia just a day after learning of the death of his beloved grandmother, Marianna Adams. Despite his personal grief, he continued to represent his country with commitment as South Africa reached the knockout stage of the tournament for the first time.
At club level, Adams had just completed an outstanding 2025/26 season with Mamelodi Sundowns, helping the club enjoy another successful campaign after joining from Stellenbosch FC, where he had risen through the academy to become one of South Africa’s most promising midfielders.
Local publication Sunday World reported that Adams allegedly took his own life after battling depression. However, authorities have not officially confirmed the cause of death, and South African police have opened an investigation while urging the public to avoid speculation.
In a heartfelt statement, the South African Football Players Union described Adams’ passing as “an immeasurable loss” to his family, teammates, clubs, supporters, and the entire football community. Tributes have also poured in from FIFA, football clubs, teammates, and fans across the world, remembering him as a gifted player whose career was cut tragically short.
Mexico’s Julian Quinones pulled one back before halftime, reacting quickest to a loose ball in the box to fire into the roof of the net and revive the co-hosts’ hopes.
England were reduced to 10 men in the second half after Jarrell Quansah was sent off following a VAR review, but Harry Kane restored England’s two-goal lead with a penalty after goalkeeper Raul Rangel fouled Anthony Gordon.
Mexico’s Raul Jimenez reduced the deficit with another penalty after a VAR review confirmed a foul from Kane on Brian Gutierrez.
The match was delayed by one hour due to adverse weather conditions around the Azteca Stadium.
England will face Norway in the last eight in Miami on Saturday.
Morocco’s dramatic penalty shoot-out victory over the Netherlands on Tuesday sparked jubilant celebrations in The Hague, home to one of the Netherlands’ largest Moroccan communities, but the festivities later descended into clashes with police that resulted in several arrests.
In the city’s Schilderswijk district, Moroccan supporters flooded the streets waving national flags, dancing and chanting as car horns blared and fireworks lit up the night.
Hundreds of fans gathered at a major intersection, kicking footballs into the air, singing, and celebrating with occupants of passing vehicles. Some supporters even climbed onto moving cars in scenes of exuberance following Morocco’s historic triumph.
However, about an hour into the celebrations, riot police moved in to disperse the crowds. Officers deployed water cannons and carried out baton charges as they sought to restore order.
AFP reporters at the scene witnessed around a dozen arrests. Several young men were pinned to the ground after being struck on the legs with batons before being handcuffed and taken away in police vans.
Police officers on bicycles also pursued groups of youths through nearby streets in a cat-and-mouse chase, although no significant property damage was reported.
Despite repeated requests, revellers declined to speak to journalists, with many choosing to conceal their identities by wearing balaclavas or other face coverings.
The last-32 encounter in Monterrey ended 1-1 after extra time before being decided by a tense penalty shoot-out. After a series of misses by both sides, Morocco striker Ismael Saibari, who plays for PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands, calmly converted the decisive spot-kick to send Morocco into the last 16.
Morocco will now face co-hosts Canada in the round of 16.
A 26-year-old lawyer, Sara Araba Tettey, has tragically died while celebrating Ghana’s World Cup victory over Panama.
Tettey, a newly qualified lawyer and alumna of the Faculty of Law at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), was among millions of Ghanaians rejoicing over the Black Stars’ triumph when tragedy struck.
According to reports, she suffered a cardiac arrest while watching the match with friends at Standard Hostel, a private student hostel located at Bomso near the KNUST campus in Kumasi.
Witnesses immediately rushed her to the
KNUST Hospital, where medical personnel reportedly spent about 45 minutes administering Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) in a desperate attempt to save her life. Sadly, all efforts proved unsuccessful, and she was pronounced dead.
Tettey had only recently been called to the Ghana Bar, making her sudden death even more heartbreaking for family, friends, colleagues, and members of the legal community.
News of her passing has spread rapidly across the country, casting a shadow over what had been a moment of national celebration. While Ghanaians continue to celebrate the Black Stars’ victory, many are also mourning the loss of a promising young professional whose life was cut short.
The tragic incident has once again highlighted the importance of emergency preparedness and rapid medical response during large public and social events.
What should have been a day remembered solely for Ghana’s sporting success has instead become a day marked by both celebration and sorrow.
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