Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has opened up on his pre-match ritual, insisting these routines are important to keep him focused ahead of games.
The Napoli star has developed into one of the finest forwards in the world currently, with his goals powering the Partenopei to their first league title in over three decades last season.
Although Francesco Calzona’s side have been dethroned this season after Inter Milan were crowned champions of Serie A following their 2-1 win over rivals AC Milan on Monday, Osimhen continues to produce impressive numbers upfront.
The 25-year-old has 19 goal contributions from 28 matches this term, having scored 15 goals and provided four assists in all competitions. While many have often wondered how Osimhen prepares for games, the striker has now disclosed that he has a pre-game ritual.
Victor Osimhen lists prayers and motivational songs as part of his pre-match ritual
Opening up on some of his routines ahead of each game, the Super Eagles forward said prayer is an important part of his pre-match preparations because he’s a very religious person. He explained that right after praying, he usually listens to motivational music to keep his momentum going.
The former Wolfsburg striker also revealed that he likes to hark back to the previous game he played to be able to correct some of the mistakes he made before he takes to the field for his next assignment.
“I have a few [pre-match rituals]. Before each game, immediately we get to the hotel, I first of all say my prayers, which is important because I’m really big on God. Say my prayers and listen to some kind of motivational songs,” Osimhen said during a Q&A with Betsson Sport.
“After that, I reminisce on the previous game that I played, the mistakes that I’ve done and everything like that so I could correct them in the upcoming match. So for me, it’s always important to try to be focused at least one day before the game.
“So I know that this is what I need to do, this is what the coach wants me to do. It’s really important for me the kind of music that I listen to before each game. It inspires me to give my best. If I’m not scoring, I’m trying to help my teammates, I’m trying to defend, I’m trying to win and fight for them. These are the things that set me apart.”
Osimhen says winning African Footballer of the Year was a childhood dream
Victor Osimhen also revelled in winning the 2023 CAF Footballer of the Year award after beating off stiff competition from Egypt’s Mohamed Salah and Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi.
The ex-Lille striker became the first Super Eagles player since Nwankwo Kanu in 1999 to scoop the prestigious individual award after helping Napoli win their first Scudetto in 33 years, while also becoming the Serie A’s first top scorer from Africa.
Osimhen said it was always a childhood dream to one day become the best player in Africa, adding that getting nominated for the award felt like a win to him.
“I cannot lie, it was just a mere childhood dream. Every young aspiring African football player always dreams about playing in the Champions League, playing in the World Cup, playing in the Nations Cup and winning the African Footballer of the Year,” he told Betsson Sport.
“But where I came from, it was just a dream. It was just something that me and my friends used to say. These are just things that we used to say, that in the future we can win Ballon d’Or, we can win the African Footballer of the Year, so first of all when I was nominated, it was a win for me. Because where I came from, it was not promised that Victor Osimhen can get close to the top three or even go ahead to win it.”
Osimhen’s Napoli future remains shrouded in uncertainty, with the striker heavily linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain in the summer.
