Chelsea and Cote d’Ivoire football legend Didier Drogba has showered praises on Nigeria and Napoli’s superstar Victor Osimhen for the act of unselfishness he showed in front of goal.
The Nigerian national forward marked his return after suffering an injury on matchday one against Liverpool, with a brilliant goal in his first game against Ajax.
While Osimhen’s goal against Ajax was an excellent reward for his prowess, his selfless deed in the match, however, got the attention of many fans, including Drogba.
The 23-year-old Nigerian forward passed a penalty chance he could have grabbed himself in the Champions League match against Ajax on Wednesday, October 12.
At that moment, Napoli were already leading 2-1 and Osimhen had not yet scored when he passed a penalty kick awarded to Naples to his teammate, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
However, Osimhen eventually got himself on the scoresheet, scoring in the 87th minute to hand Ajax a humorous 4-2 beating.
Osimhen’s kind gesture has now gone viral on social media, with former Chelsea forward and Vicky’s role model, Drogba getting a glimpse of it.
Reacting to the incident, Drogba lauded Osimhen for his selflessness, naming him a great player.
Didier Drogba was touched by the gesture and lauded the 23-year-old Super Eagle’s striker, describing him as a “complete striker”, and a player who has a genuine interest in the team over individual achievements.
Drogba, on his Twitter handle, said such a gesture is “unselfishness…the real meaning of “win as a team!!!”
The 23-year-old Napoli attacker has been in incredible form for both club and country. Last campaign, Osimhen netted 14 goals for Napoli in Serie A and provided two assists as the team finished in a Uefa Champions League spot.
Osimhen has continued in his dexterity as he has been firing on all cylinders this season, scoring seven goals thus far in Serie A and a goal in the Champions League and levelling Naples on the top of both Serie A and Champions League tables.
Moreover, last Saturday, October 29, he scored his first ever hattrick as Napoli thrashed Sassuolo 4-0 in an Italian top-tier game played at Diego Maradona Stadium.
Earlier this year, Drogba described Osimhen as a promising striker with a glamorous future and said the Super Eagle’s striker has the potential to hit higher levels.
“I like him [Osimhen] a lot. Great striker. He can be the best in the world and when you have the talent as he has got, I think it’s just a question of momentum,” the 44-year-old former Blues player said in an interview with Marco Giordano.
Liverpool defeated Napoli 2-0 in their last group stage game played on Tuesday, November 1st. However, Naples managed to top the group with 15 points and 3 goal difference above Liverpool who have the same points.
Osimhen’s supporters will hope to see him strive and shine even brighter as Napoli qualifies for the knockout stage.
Who is victor Osimhen?
Victor James Osimhen was born on the 29th of December 1998 in Lagos, Nigeria.
He is a Nigerian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Serie A club Napoli and the Nigeria national team.
Osimhen’s Football Career
Born in Nigeria, Osimhen began his senior career in Germany at VfL Wolfsburg in 2017.
After spending a season and a half at the club, he moved to Belgian side Charleroi on loan in the 2018–19 season, before joining the France club Lille.
On 31st of July 2020, Osimhen joined the Serie A club Napoli for a club-record fee of €70 million potentially rising to €80 million with add-ons, making him the most expensive African transfer to date.
Osimhen won the Golden Boot award at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, which Nigeria won. He made his senior international debut in June 2017 and played at the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.
Osimhen’s Contract details
On the 31st of July 2020, Napoli announced the signing of Victor Osimhen for a club-record fee of €70 million potentially increasing to €80 million with add-ons.
His current contract with Napoli expires in 2025, but the striker continues to be linked with a move away from Italy this summer with Premier League as well as Bundesliga clubs keen to sign him.
What is Osimhen’s Salary and net worth?
The 23-year-old Super Eagle’s attacker is the second-highest-paid Nigerian footballer on the planet.
Osimhen has managed to solidify himself as one of the deadliest strikers in the Italian league, recently winning the Serie A Most Valuable Young Player Award.
He earns around £5,824,000 per year, courtesy of his £112,000 weekly package, and his net worth is calculated to be around 27 Million euros (24.8 Million Pounds)£13,598,000.
What is the relationship status of Victor Osimhen
Like most celebrities, Osimhen keeps his love away from social media.
However, Italian news outlets have reported that he is living with his girlfriend, Stephanie in Naples but nothing on any of his social media accounts has suggested so.
Moreover, though he claims to be single, there’s a revelation that the Super Eagles and Napoli forward have celebrated the birth of his daughter.
Osimhen missed Thursday’s Napoli training following the birth of his daughter as he was allowed by the club leadership to be with his daughter on the 7th of October, 2022.
