19.02.2026 09:31
Galatasaray's star Osimhen shared his challenging life and passion for football in The Players' Tribune. He mentioned that he grew up next to Africa's largest landfill and searched for football boots in the dump to be able to play. Osimhen wrote that he only had 15 minutes of opportunity during the U17 National Team trials, and in that time, he scored two goals, changing his destiny.
Galatasaray's Nigerian star Viktor Osimhen has penned his life struggle filled with challenges for The Players' Tribune for the first time. In his article titled "Prayers from the Swamp," Osimhen shares his journey from childhood to the pinnacle of European football, using emotionally charged expressions.
GREW UP NEXT TO A DUMP
Osimhen, who lost his mother at a young age, recounted growing up in the Olusosun slum in Lagos, next to Africa's largest landfill. The star striker, who stated that they searched for football boots in the dump to be able to play, highlighted the impossibilities with the words, "I was a child with Nike on one foot and Puma on the other."
Osimhen shared that he sold water and oranges, worked in a church, and even cleaned drainage ditches to support his family, emphasizing that he took a break from football for a while but never gave up on his dream.
LIFE CHANGED IN 15 MINUTES
Osimhen wrote that he only had 15 minutes of opportunity in the U17 National Team trials and changed his fate by scoring two goals in that time, stating, "My life changed with my lucky green jersey." Reminding that he was the top scorer with 10 goals in the U17 World Cup held in Chile, the star player described the day he moved his family from a one-room house to better conditions with the words, "The prayers must have worked."
HIS FATHER'S PASSING AND THE DARK SIDE OF FOOTBALL
Having experienced periods at Wolfsburg and Lille in his European career, Osimhen noted that he lost his father during the COVID period and carried the pain of not being able to be by his side for a long time. He expressed his anger and disappointment by saying, "If this is football, what does it mean?"
REBIRTH IN NAPLES
Osimhen described his experience with coach Luciano Spalletti at Napoli, stating that the historic championship won in the 2022-2023 season was a turning point for him. The Nigerian star emphasized that "Bringing the Scudetto to Napoli after 33 years is history," highlighting that those days are unforgettable.
GALATASARAY DECISION
Responding to criticisms regarding his transfer to Turkey, Osimhen stated that he made his decision for Galatasaray with his heart. The star footballer conveyed the trust that Okan Buruk placed in him, describing the night he arrived in Istanbul when thousands of fans welcomed him with the words, "This feeling is more valuable than money."
"I WANT GREATNESS"
Osimhen concluded his article with the words, "Do you know what I want? Greatness. Not for myself, but for those like me." Addressing the children in Nigeria who sell water in traffic and search for hope in the dump, the striker expressed his desire for his story to be a source of hope.