Is Victor Osimhen The Next African Giant – Or Still Chasing the Greats?



Victor Osimhen has rapidly risen through the ranks to become one of Africa’s brightest football stars. His meteoric rise, especially after leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in over three decades in the 2022–2023 season, has sparked a passionate debate: Is Victor Osimhen the greatest African footballer of all time?

To answer this question fairly, we must consider the careers of other legendary African players and weigh Osimhen’s achievements, impact, and potential against theirs.

Victor Osimhen: The New African Star

Victor Osimhen began attracting global attention after finishing as the top scorer in the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup, where Nigeria emerged champions. Since then, his career has seen consistent progress—from Wolfsburg in Germany, to Lille in France, and then to Napoli in Italy.

In the 2022–2023 season, Osimhen scored 26 goals in Serie A, becoming the league’s top scorer and helping Napoli secure their first Scudetto since the days of Diego Maradona. He also became the highest-scoring African in Serie A history. His combination of pace, strength, and clinical finishing has drawn comparisons to elite strikers worldwide.

But Is He the Greatest? Let's Compare

To evaluate Osimhen’s greatness, we must look at other African football giants across generations:

 George Weah (Liberia)



  • Achievements: Only African to win the Ballon d’Or (1995).
  • Clubs: AC Milan, PSG, Monaco.
  • Legacy: Revolutionized African presence in Europe. Weah’s blend of technical ability, power, and leadership made him a dominant force in the 1990s. His impact went beyond football—he later became the President of Liberia.
  • Comparison: Weah’s Ballon d’Or still stands as an unmatched individual feat by any African player. Osimhen has not yet reached that level of global recognition.

Didier Drogba (Côte d'Ivoire)



  • Achievements: 4-time Premier League champion, UEFA Champions League winner (2012), 2-time African Footballer of the Year.
  • Club Legend: Chelsea FC.
  • Legacy: One of the most clutch strikers in modern football, Drogba was a leader on and off the pitch. He’s also credited with helping stop a civil war in his home country.
  • Comparison: Osimhen has the potential to match Drogba’s club success, but Drogba’s longevity and big-match performances still set him apart for now.

Samuel Eto’o (Cameroon)

  • Achievements: 4-time African Footballer of the Year, 3-time Champions League winner (with Barcelona and Inter), multiple league titles.
  • Clubs: Barcelona, Inter Milan, Chelsea.
  • Legacy: A complete forward with pace, technique, and a killer instinct, Eto’o is widely considered one of the most decorated African footballers ever.
  • Comparison: Eto’o’s trophy cabinet, especially his Champions League success and international performances with Cameroon, puts him ahead of Osimhen at this point.

Mohamed Salah (Egypt)



  • Achievements: Premier League and Champions League winner, 3-time Golden Boot winner in the Premier League, multiple-time African Footballer of the Year.
  • Club: Liverpool.
  • Legacy: Salah has set Premier League records and is Egypt’s all-time top scorer. His consistency at the highest level is remarkable.
  • Comparison: Osimhen may surpass Salah if he continues on his trajectory, but he currently lacks the longevity and individual accolades Salah has achieved.

Yaya Touré (Côte d'Ivoire)



  • Achievements: 4-time African Footballer of the Year, 3-time Premier League champion, UEFA Champions League winner.
  • Clubs: Barcelona, Manchester City.
  • Legacy: One of the best African midfielders ever. Touré combined skill, power, and intelligence.
  • Comparison: Osimhen plays a different role, but Touré’s influence and trophies place him among the top African greats.

What Sets Osimhen Apart

  • Age and Potential: Osimhen is still in his mid-20s. If he maintains his form, he could surpass several of the players mentioned in terms of goals and club success.
  • Historical Milestone: Leading Napoli to the Serie A title was historic, as it ended a 33-year drought. Few African players have led a top-five European club to league victory almost single-handedly.
  • Playing Style: His raw physicality, explosive pace, and instinctive finishing make him one of the most feared forwards in Europe.

What do you think? Will Osimhen surpass them all?

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