Nigeria international striker Victor Osimhen has revealed his confidence was very low while in WFL Wolfsburg but believed his decision to join Charleroi on loan has helped rediscover his form again.
After he finished as the tournament top scorer with 10 goals, as Nigeria strolled to her fifth Under-17 World Cup in 2015, Osimhen became the hottest kid on the block as many big European teams was after his signature.
The 19-year old decided to join Wolfsburg in 2016 ahead of English side Arsenal , but injuries and loss of form stalled his progress, thereby restricted him to 16 appearances for the club in all competitions.
“My confidence level was very low at some point and what going out on loan to Charleroi has done for me is unexplainable,” Osimhen told BBC Sport.
“It was tough in Germany because of the high expectations – some people started doubting me and also pushed me to start doubting myself as well.
“The football in Belgium has helped, I also have a wonderful group of players around me and the coaching crew have been great with me.
“As a young player, you hear people comparing you to other stars who emerged from the under-17 World Cup and never fulfilled their potential.
“But now at Charleroi I have comfortably found my happiness again, and I thank everyone in Belgium and at Wolfsburg for the opportunity and support.”
Osimhen was a constant name on the Gernot Rohr’s Super Eagles list when he took over in 2016 but injuries caused the striker a place in the team’s 2018 World Cup qualifiers and the tournament proper but he’s back in the fold again as he was handed a starting shirt in the team’s last international friendly against the cranes of Uganda in Asaba.
“I am still young and I think it wasn’t meant to be, but I can still look forward to the future,” he added.
“I thank coach [Gernot] Rohr for the opportunity to return to the squad and I hope to keep working hard to stay in his plans.”
Osimhen was named CAF Young player of the year in 2015 and has made three appearances for the Super Eagles.
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