Betking_ng_-What-is-Victor-Osimhen's-Ceiling_.jpg

In a few short years, Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen has become a bonafide Italian legend in Naples. Leading Napoli to their first Scudetto in 33 years, as well as becoming the first African ever to win the Serie A Golden Boot, has solidified his legacy in the home of Diego Armando Maradona. 

Just like Maradona, Osimhen came from humble beginnings. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, the chances afforded to young kids who dare to dream are minimal. He went from selling in the streets to achieving Serie A immortality, a testament to hard work and dedication.  

**Don't forget, Betking is Nigeria’s leading online sports betting platform and we are committed to giving you the best betting tips, betting offers, and the best odds around, to help you win big.** 


**Osimhen’s Early Beginnings: Nigeria to Wolfsburg** 

Osimhen embraced his love for football at an early age, often playing for hours after school in the hopes of one day being discovered, and his prayers were soon answered.  

He joined Ultimate Strikers Academy and was afforded the opportunity to attend an open screening for Nigeria’s U-17 squad in 2014. After an impressive showing, he was selected to be a part of Emmanuel Amunike’s squad and his life took off from there. 

Osimhen shot to real prominence in the U-17 World Cup in Chile, at just 16-years-old, he led the Golden Eaglets to the trophy while setting the record for most goals scored in the tournament (10).  

In the wake of his remarkable exploits in Chile, Osimhen signed for German side Wolfsburg in 2017. Big things were expected of him, at just 18, but the conditions never favoured him. He failed to make any impact in Germany, struggling for playing time before deciding to leave after no goals in 16 appearances.  



**European story kicks off: Wolfsburg to Lille via Charleroi** 

After making the hard decision to leave Wolfsburg, summer trials with Belgian clubs Zulte Waregem and Club Brugge failed to turn into contract offers, but his perseverance paid off as he secured a loan deal with a different Belgian side Charleroi — this was where Osimhen’s career in Europe really took off.  

He scored his first goal for Charleroi on September 22, 2018, against Beveren with an audacious backheel and, from that time, he never looked back. 

Osimhen finished the season with a remarkable 20 goals in 36 appearances, and Charleroi acted quickly to exercise their option to sign him on a permanent basis, paying up to €3.5m in July 2019.  

However, he was so sought-after that French club Lille shelled out €12m for his signature in the same window. 

Osimhen spent just one season with Lille, scoring 18 goals and providing 6 assists in 38 games. His performances earned him the award for Lille Player of the Season, and at that point it had become clear that the Super Eagles striker was destined for the very top. 

Europe’s biggest clubs enquired about Osimhen’s services but Napoli’s project proved to be the most convincing and a deal was struck to send him to Naples for a club record fee of around €70m. 

 

**Napoli: Breakthrough, Capocannoniere & Serie A Title** 

Osimhen arrived in Italy with a big reputation. Napoli were in need of a reliable goalscorer, having been unable to replace Gonzalo Higuain who left to join Juventus in 2016. 

Despite looking sharp and hungry in his first few weeks for Napoli, Osimhen’s debut season was truncated by injuries. In November 2020, the striker was stretchered off during an Africa Cup of Nations qualifying game for Nigeria and was later diagnosed with a shoulder injury that saw him miss action for up to three months. 

Despite the season’s troubles, he finished the campaign with 10 goals in 30 appearances across all competitions for Napoli.  

Osimhen performed better in his second season, despite once again struggling with injuries, finishing the campaign with 18 goals in 32 games. 

By his third season, he had taken greater responsibility for Napoli after the departures of Lorenzo Insigne and Dries Mertens. He exploded right from the start, scoring and assisting, week after week to delight the Napoli crowd.  

He became the first Napoli player ever to score in 7 consecutive league games and the first player in Serie A history to score in 8 straight league games since Cristiano Ronaldo. He also finished the season with 26 league goals to win the famous Capocannoniere (Golden Boot).  


[https://m.betking.com/sports/match/5546899/serie-a-top-goalscorer](https://m.betking.com/sports/events/outright/football/italy/serie-a) 

 
His 26 goals last season were scored at a rate of 0.92 goals per 90. Of players in Europe’s top five leagues to score at least 12 goals in all competitions, only Erling Haaland (1.13) and Kylian Mbappé (1.04) managed a better per-90 rate.(Opta) 

Not only is Osimhen the only African to ever win the Serie A Golden Boot, he is now the highest scoring African in the Italian top flight with 50 goals, breaking George Weah’s record of 46. His goalscoring exploits led Napoli to their first Scudetto since 1990, earning him a spot in the Serie A team of the season and an award for the forward of the year in Italy.  

The Nigerian has built a formidable partnership with Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, making Napoli’s attack one of the most feared in Europe and with 3 goals from 3 games already this season, it is clear he has no intentions of slowing down.  

● Bet on Osimhen to lead Napoli to the Serie A title this season 

**How far can Osimhen go?** 

Osimhen has proven that he can get better every single year. He is much more than just a finisher as his mere presence in the box unsettles even the most experienced defenders and he acts as a focal point to bring his teammates into play.  

He is the complete striker too, able to score all kinds of goals; his 31 goals in all competitions last season consisted of 18 scored with his favoured right foot, four with his left and nine with his head.He is unstoppable with both feet and a real menace in the air. His commitment to excellence allows him to remain a threat, with or without the ball.  

The 24-year-old is also able to adapt to his environment easily. He scores goals wherever he goes, as hown by his absurd goal tally for the Nigerian national team. Already, the Napoli forward has scored 20 goals in 26 appearances for Nigeria and is slowly closing in on Rashidi Yekini’s record of 37 goals. 

Osimhen has been nominated for the CAF 2023 African Footballer of the Year, along with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, Manchester United’s Andre Onana, PSG defender Achraf Hakimi and West Ham new recruit Muhammed Kudus. 

Based on the 2022/23 season, Osimhen should be the clear favourite. 31 goals in all competitions for Napoli, 10 goals for Nigeria to send them comfortably into next year’s AFCON, and a place in the Ballon d’Or nominations gives the Super Eagles man an edge over everyone else.  

The time is ripe for him to leave Napoli too and with the biggest clubs in Europe already circling, he’ll have his pick of the bunch at the end of this season. 

As long as he remains fit, Osimhen will continue to score goals, and as long as he continues to score, his legacy in Naples and indeed, the rest of the world, will continue to grow. 

● Bet on Osimhen to lead Napoli to the Champions League Final 

● Bet on Osimhen to finish as the Champions League top scorer 

● Bet on Napoli to top Group C 

**Remember, You can bet on live matches today, check today’s match result, enjoy free betting tips with high odds on our Blog and much more, all on BetKing.** 

 [Sign up to get started!](https://m.betking.com/account/registration) 

Last season, Victor Osimhen led Napoli to Serie A glory and a place among the Italian greats. What's next for the Nigerian leading striker now + in the future? 

Betting Tips

Victor Osimhen: Ballon d’Or? African Footballer of the Year? The Nigerian Superstar Can Win It All

● Bet on Osimhen to lead Napoli to the Serie A title this season

● Bet on Osimhen to lead Napoli to the Champions League Final

● Bet on Osimhen to finish as the Champions League top scorer

● Bet on Napoli to top Group C