Osimhen Unveils Intentions to Pursue Education After Concluding Football Career

Victor Osimhen, the striker for the Super Eagles and Galatasaray, has expressed his intention to return to education and obtain a university degree after his football career concludes.

Osimhen shared this insight during an interview with Instablog TV, where he contemplated life after football and the significance of education.

“As an adult, not everything I learned in school. There are certain life lessons you encounter throughout life’s journey,” Osimhen remarked.

“For me, it would be fantastic to also pursue a degree, which I’m still contemplating because football doesn’t last forever, probably 20, 25 years, and then it's over.”

Osimhen further noted that while he has various avenues to explore after retiring from football, earning a university degree would serve as a personal achievement and a means to motivate younger individuals.

“Even though I have numerous options to rely on when I’m finished, I believe it’s still crucial for me to set an example and establish a benchmark for the younger generation,” he stated.

The 2023 African Player of the Year also urged young individuals who had to pause their education due to financial or personal challenges, emphasizing that it’s never too late to return to school.

“Even if you had to drop out because of various challenges, it’s something you can always revisit. Education will always be there.”

Osimhen was born in Lagos, Nigeria, as the youngest of seven siblings and grew up in the Olusosun area of Lagos, a densely populated neighborhood near one of the city's largest landfills.

After the passing of his mother and his father's job loss, Osimhen sold sachet water (“pure water”) and other goods in Lagos traffic to help support his family.

Also Read: Galatasaray Chief Ozbek Rules Out Osimhen Sale

He attended Olusosun Primary School, where his football abilities began to attract attention, eventually joining Ultimate Strikers Academy, a local football academy in Lagos, where his talents were honed and led to his discovery by national team scouts.

His breakthrough occurred in 2015 when he was chosen to represent Nigeria at the FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals, aiding Nigeria in securing the title.

He was part of the Nigerian team that clinched the 2015 U-23 Africa Cup of Nations under former Nigeria international Samson Siasia.

In 2017, he made his Super Eagles debut in a 2–0 loss against South Africa during the qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.

He has since represented Nigeria in three AFCONs – 2019, 2023, and 2025.

At the club level, he has played for Wolfsburg, Lille, Charleroi, Napoli, and currently represents Turkish giants Galatasaray.

By James Agberebi