Nigerian Football Star, Osimhen, Recalls Humble Beginning …Says I Used To Fetch Water, Clean Gutters In Lagos For N80 

Nigerian football sensation Victor Osimhen has opened a deeply personal chapter of his life, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the hardships he endured growing up in the sprawling urban chaos of Lagos. In a heartfelt interview with broadcaster Daddy Freeze, Osimhen recounted the harsh economic conditions that marked his early years, detailing the menial jobs he undertook to survive — long before the bright lights of stadiums in Europe came calling.

Growing up in Olusosun, a densely populated and often overlooked part of Lagos tucked beside the city’s largest dumpsite, Osimhen’s daily life was marked by struggle and sacrifice. It was a neighborhood where poverty was not an abstract statistic but a tangible reality — and where dreams, for many, were too often smothered by the weight of survival.

“There was a building in front of my house, like a face-me-I-face-you,” Osimhen shared, referring to the popular but congested Lagos tenement housing structure where multiple families live in one compound with shared facilities. “I used to fetch water for people upstairs for N80, and sometimes I cleaned the gutters, even when green things were coming out of it.”

For most of his childhood, Victor Osimhen was no different from millions of other Nigerian youths born into economic deprivation. He did not have the privileges that cushion ambition. Instead, he navigated life through grit. Fetching water, clearing gutters, and performing whatever odd jobs were available became not just a way to help his family, but a means of nurturing an unyielding desire to rise beyond his circumstances.

This deeply human story of Osimhen’s formative years has struck a chord across social media and beyond. In a country where millions battle daily for the basics — clean water, food, a semblance of security — his story mirrors the lived experience of many, but also offers something rarer: hope.

Osimhen’s rise to football royalty is nothing short of extraordinary. After being discovered at a youth tournament, he burst onto the international scene with Nigeria’s U-17 team at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he won the Golden Boot. From there, he navigated a challenging European journey, with stints in Germany and Belgium, before finding success in France with Lille, and eventually moving to Napoli, Italy.

Today, Osimhen is not only one of the most feared strikers in Europe but also one of the highest-paid African footballers globally. His market value has soared, and so has his influence — not just as a player, but as a symbol of what is possible.

What makes Osimhen’s testimony especially compelling is how it transcends football. It is a story rooted in resilience, reminding Nigerians and Africans at large that success stories are often born from unimaginable trials. His life reflects the journey of many young Africans who are gifted but constrained by systemic inequality, lack of opportunity, and generational poverty.

The fact that he can now tell his story from a place of triumph — not bitterness — speaks to his character. It’s also a subtle challenge to society: that such talent should not have to pass through such peril to flourish.

Since the interview aired, Nigerians on social platforms like X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Facebook have celebrated Osimhen not just for his footballing prowess but for his authenticity. Many have drawn parallels between his story and their own lives or the lives of those they know, pointing to him as proof that one’s background need not define one’s future.

“It’s not just about football anymore,” wrote one user. “It’s about dignity in hustle. Osimhen didn’t wait for the system to rescue him — he fought through, and he made it.”

Another noted: “If Victor Osimhen can rise from Olusosun to Napoli, then we all have a fighting chance.”

In a nation where youths often feel disillusioned by poor governance, unemployment, and lack of infrastructure, Osimhen’s journey is more than motivational; it is revolutionary. He represents a new generation of role models — not defined by elitist privilege or inherited status, but by lived experience, resilience, and defiant hope.

And while Osimhen continues to dominate the pitch with Napoli and the Super Eagles, his impact off the field may ultimately prove just as significant. His story, courageously shared, has the power to inspire a generation that needs not only heroes but proof that greatness can rise from gutters — quite literally.

In the words of the man himself, “It was tough, but I never stopped dreaming.”

From N80 jobs in Olusosun to million-euro goals in Serie A — Victor Osimhen’s story isn’t just about football. It’s about life, faith, and the unbreakable will to rise.