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By Esther Bassey
Victor Osimhen is currently Africa’s most expensive footballer, a Serie A champion, and a global inspiration. But before the luxury cars, mansions, and fame, his life was once a raw struggle for survival.
Growing up in Olusosun, Lagos, home to one of the largest dumpsites in Africa, Osimhen quickly learned that nothing comes easy. Every naira had to be fought for. Every dream had to be chased.
Here are seven things he did to survive before his rise to football glory:
1. Hawked sachet water in Lagos traffic
Osimhen was just a little boy weaving through cars in the sweltering Lagos heat, balancing trays of “pure water” on his head. Every sale was a step closer to helping his family.
“While growing up, my brother was selling newspapers, my sister oranges. I was in the traffic with water, and I’d have to chase cars, give them water to get the money. I feel like these struggles helped me in life,” he said.
2. Sold newspapers
From water to newspapers, Osimhen knew there was no shame in hustle. Alongside his brother, he dashed between vehicles, dodging horns and angry drivers, just to earn a few naira.
3. Fetched water for neighbours
When hawking wasn’t enough, he fetched water for people who couldn’t carry it themselves. It was a small job, but it kept food on the table.
“I did some cleaning jobs for my neighbours close to my house, fetch water for 80 Naira, I think,” he recalled.
4. Washed gutters
The Olusosun environment was harsh, but young Osimhen never turned away from dirty work. He washed gutters and cleared algae for small pay.
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“I remember when I was growing up, I was cleaning the gutters for 20 Naira. For my landlord, most of the time I would wash gutters, with the spirogyra coming out of it, for 30 Naira.”
5. Cut grass and did yard work
To make ends meet, Osimhen also took on odd jobs such as cutting grass, sweeping compounds, and running errands. No job was too small when survival was at stake.
6. Worked in a computer shop
At one point, he picked up work in a local computer shop. It wasn’t glamorous, but it taught him responsibility and discipline skills that shaped his character.
7. Scavenged dumpsites for football gear
Even while hustling, football never left his heart. With no money for boots or jerseys, he and his friends turned to the Olusosun dumpsite to find discarded gear.
“We’d see Nike left and Adidas right and try to combine everything together.”
From hawking sachet water to cleaning gutters and scavenging boots, Osimhen’s story is one of resilience. His life is proof that greatness can rise from the most unlikely of places.
“I feel like these struggles helped me in life, and they made me who I am today.”
Today, when fans cheer his goals in Europe, they see only the superstar. But behind the glory is a boy who once carried buckets, cleaned gutters, and fought through Lagos traffic, a boy whose struggles paved the way to greatness.
His journey reminds us that no struggle is wasted and every sacrifice prepared him for the success he enjoys today.
