Osmeen, the rising soccer star from Nigeria, in a recent exclusive interview with Daily Mail, fondly shared his upbringing, admiration for his idols and his unique connection with contemporary soccer superstar, Harland.
He admits that his path to soccer was heavily influenced by legendary Ivorian striker Didier Drogba. Since he was a child, Drogba planted the seeds of his soccer dreams in Osmeen's mind. In particular, Drogba's stunning header to equalize in the 2012 Champions League final thrilled the young Osmeen, who celebrated as if he had scored the goal himself. This love and admiration was recognized and encouraged by Drogba himself after Osmeen won the Golden Boot at the U17 World Cup in 2015, which became an immeasurable motivation in his career.
Talking about the delicate relationship with Harland, Osmeen said that although the two belong to different clubs, they both have a pure love and relentless pursuit of soccer. Through a mutual friend, Erstigot, the two have even exchanged jerseys, which is not only a symbol of friendship, but also a recognition of each other's strength and potential. Harland's outstanding performance continues to inspire Osmeen to work harder on the pitch and strive for higher achievements.
Looking back on his upbringing, Osmeen is overwhelmed with emotion. From playing soccer on the streets at the age of seven or eight, to selling oranges and water for his family's livelihood, to overcoming many difficulties to enter the U17 youth team of Nigeria, every step was full of hardships and challenges. But it was these experiences that shaped his resilient character and infinite love for soccer. Today, he has become a leading African footballer and won the 2023 African Player of the Year award, realizing a childhood dream.
Looking to the future, Osmeen said he will continue to remain humble and hardworking to win more honors for Napoli, while also looking forward to displaying his talent on a higher stage. He believes that as long as he perseveres in pursuing his dreams, he will one day be able to stand at the pinnacle of the world soccer world.
