It was already clear following his hat-trick against Australia that there was only ever going to be one outstanding candidate for both the Golden Ball and the Golden Boot at the U-17 World Cup in Chile. Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen has all the makings of a true gem; unrefined in many ways, but already his gleam is undeniable. Might he be that precious kind of once-in-a-generation player?
It could all have been so different. Nigeria’s outing at the Caf U-17 Championships in Niger in February ended in the disappointment of a fourth-place finish, just enough to qualify for the global tournament. In spite of this, Osimhen topped the scoring chart, hitting four, and identified himself as an untouchable talent as the team underwent an exhaustive overhaul.
Only five regulars from that qualifying tournament started in the opening U-17 World Cup game against the USA in Vina del Mar, but impressively, the 16-year-old has maintained his level of performance and arguably bettered it. His selfless work ethic, persistence and physicality are entirely in keeping with the style of Chelsea legend Didier Drogba, whom he idolises. More importantly, they put him at the service of a team that, at times, look utterly dependent on his qualities.
The gangly striker, built like a middle-distance runner, is deceptively quick and possesses a tremendous leap. The quality of his off-the-ball runs, as well as the sheer variety of his finishes, make him a handful to contain.
Paris Saint-Germain, Liverpool, Chelsea, Juventus, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich have all sent scouts to Chile to watch the U-17 World Cup. They are likely to be returning to their respective clubs with only one name on their lips.
From penalties to headers, scuffed efforts to elegant curlers, Osimhen’s potential is infinite. The Ultimate Strikers Academy prodigy has scored in every game so far in Chile, and another strike against Mali in the final would give him the record outright as the highest-ever goalscorer in an U-17 World Cup tournament.
So far, he has found the net nine times for Emmanuel Amunike’s charges—including a hat-trick in the 6-0 Last-16 demolition of Australia—and one more goal would take him ahead of Florent Sinama Pongolle and Souleymane Coulibaly in the record books. The former scored nine for France during the 2001 edition of the tournament, while the latter matched that tally for the Cote d’Ivoire a decade later.
It is amazing just how far the beautiful game has brought Osimhen.
The last in a family of six, the striker revealed in a chat with the Caf website that he sold wares at the roadside to contribute to the family income before finding football. This reality of standing in the middle of traffic to sell products is a lot more perilous and tasking than many imagine; aside from the danger of oncoming traffic, the hawkers often have to sprint in bursts to catch up with speeding cars in order to receive payment for their items.
For one so young, there is also the danger of losing what earnings you have managed to bullies or pickpockets. Osimhen must have learnt to stand up for himself and be aware of his surroundings, traits which stand a forward in excellent stead against physical, aggressive defenders.
His performances may be earning rave reviews, but he is keeping a calm head through it all. “My priority is not to be the top scorer at this Fifa U-17 World Cup. When Nigeria won the tournament in 2013, the top scorer was not from Nigeria,” he told Caf.
He is right, of course. Valmir Berisha’s seven goals were unmatched in the UAE, but the Golden Boot went to Kelechi Iheanacho, who is now making a name for himself at Manchester City.
He may be focusing on the title, but Osimhen looks a safe bet to sweep both individual awards, and will hope that, just like his compatriot, he is making a splash in Europe within two years.
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