Victor Osimhen stands as one of the most coveted football players on the planet. Though the Super Eagles forward has achieved global recognition and become a household name, there remains a relative lack of public knowledge regarding the Victor Osimhen family and the significant role they played in sculpting his remarkable journey.
This article aims to illuminate the specifics of the Victor Osimhen family, providing insights into the background that contributed to his rise to stardom.
Victor Osimhen family: The journey for a better life
Prior to Victor Osimhen's birth on December 29, 1998, his parents, accompanied by his six siblings, relocated to Lagos, Nigeria's bustling economic center, with aspirations of a more prosperous life. Driven by financial limitations, they established their residence in Olusosun, situated within the Oregun/Ojota region of the state.
Olusosun, notorious for its expansive landfill and demanding living conditions, was far from an optimal residential area. The pervasive toxic fumes and disagreeable smells emanating from the dumpsite rendered life there exceptionally arduous.
It was within this challenging setting that young Victor came into the world. The Victor Osimhen family confronted acute financial hardships, as their meager earnings proved insufficient to meet their basic needs. Tragically, his mother suffered a fatal accident while engaged in selling sachet water, an effort to bolster the family's income.
Her premature demise dealt a crushing blow to the family, and their tribulations were exacerbated when Victor's father, Patrick Osimhen, subsequently lost his employment.
To cope with these hardships, all seven Osimhen children contributed by taking up various small jobs. Victor, as a young boy, sold sachet water under the harsh Lagos sun to help support the Victor Osimhen family.
Victor’s eldest brother, Andrew, made a significant sacrifice by giving up his dreams of pursuing a football career. He worked menial jobs to ensure Victor could complete his primary education.
Despite his father’s initial hope for him to become a doctor, Victor chose to follow his passion for football, inspired by his idol, Chelsea legend Didier Drogba. Andrew wholeheartedly supported this decision, and their father eventually came around, providing his backing as well.
Both Patrick and Andrew took on the role of Victor’s agents when he rose to prominence following the 2015 U-17 World Cup. Their unwavering support was instrumental in Victor’s journey to becoming a global football star.
Today, Victor Osimhen is not only the 2023 African Footballer of the Year but also the breadwinner of the Victor Osimhen family. His success in football has paved the way for his family’s financial independence, a far cry from their earlier struggles.
Though his parents are no longer alive, the Victor Osimhen family members who stood by him during tough times now reap the rewards of their perseverance.
This story illustrates how the challenges faced by the Victor Osimhen family, starting with their move to Lagos, have ultimately transformed into blessings. Victor’s professional football career has provided a better life for every member of his family, fulfilling the dream they all worked so hard to achieve.
Victor Osimhen parents: Who are his mother and father?
Victor Osimhen's parents hailed from Esan South Local Government Area of Edo State in southern Nigeria. Victor's father was Elder Patrick Osimhen, while his mother was Christiana Osimhen.
The Super Eagles forward’s mother did not live to see her son forge a successful career in football, as she died a few years after giving birth to him. However, Victor's father died in 2020 at the age of 80. He lived to enjoy his son's success, as Victor was already playing for LOSC Lille in France at that time.
Victor Osimhen siblings
Olusosun is not one of the beautiful areas in Lagos State, but Patrick Osimhen, his wife Christiana, and their seven children lived in that locality during their most difficult years.
Victor Osimhen has six siblings: two brothers and four sisters. Their names are Andrew, Samson, Gloria, Esther, Joy, and Blessing.
Not so much is known about Victor Osimhen's siblings besides Andrew, the eldest of them all. Andrew sold newspapers by the roadside in Ojota, the neighbourhood next to Olusosun where they lived.
During those difficult years when the family barely had enough to eat, Andrew rose at 4 a.m. so he could collect the papers and be on the streets in time for rush hour. He did this every day in order to provide for the family and help sponsor his youngest sibling, Victor, in school.
After the tragic loss of their mother, and the fact that their father also lost his job during that period, Andrew stepped up to be the breadwinner, casting aside his own desire to become a footballer.
It is believed that all of Osimhen's siblings did one thing or another to make ends meet and also to support him, but we cannot say for sure what line of odd jobs each of them took up aside from the one the eldest son ventured into.
When the world caught a glimpse of Victor Osimhen siblings
It was during the 2022/23 Napoli Serie A-winning campaign, in which Victor Osimhen emerged as a pivotal figure in the club's success, that the world witnessed some of the striker's relatives.
During the Scudetto-winning celebration at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium in Naples, football fans discovered that Victor Osimhen had flown at least 20 people from Nigeria, including his entire family, friends, and childhood coach, to celebrate his achievement.
Osimhen's gesture to his loved ones in his moment of joy and laughter showcased his true nature and his unwavering desire to let them all know that he will forever cherish their contribution to his success story.
From an ordinary street hawker in Lagos years ago, Osimhen has etched his name in the record books of both club and international football. He will continue to do so even as he looks to move away from Napoli in the summer of 2024 to make more memories elsewhere.
With his family, friends, and loved ones solidly behind him, there is no limit to what the Super Eagles striker can achieve or what the future holds in store for him.
