Galatasaray and Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen has shared a memorable anecdote from his early days with Nigeria’s national team, highlighting a moment of rejection followed by support from teammate Kelechi Iheanacho.
The incident occurred in 2017 when Osimhen received his initial invitation to the Super Eagles camp.
Eager to show respect and connect with established stars, the then-young striker sought out Iheanacho, who was playing for Manchester City at the time.
During a recent Twitch livestream session on Saturday, with comedian Carter Efe, conducted while Osimhen is in Nigeria recovering from a forearm fracture picked up in Galatasaray’s UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool, he recounted the experience.
“When I came, I met Iheanacho. And I told him, ‘ah, see me, I’m gonna carry your boots.’ So he said I should come to his room so, he gave me his room number,” Osimhen said.
Upon arriving at the designated hotel room, Osimhen knocked, only to be met by Iheanacho’s roommate—a well-known senior Nigerian international at the period—who promptly dismissed him.
“So, as I got to his room — I don’t just want to mention the name — he had a roommate. So, as I knocked on the door, the roommate opened the door.
“So, he like bounced me out of the room,” Osimhen said, choosing not to disclose the player’s identity.
The snub did not go unnoticed, as Iheanacho later learned of the occurrence and expressed clear displeasure.
“Iheanacho showed up and was angry at him, saying, ‘you see that someone came to see me in my room and you are chasing him from my room.’
“So Iheanacho took my hand and took me inside,” Osimhen recalled, emphasizing the welcoming gesture that followed.
This story from Osimhen’s breakthrough year with the national team underscores the challenges and hierarchies often present in football squads, particularly for newcomers.
It also illustrates the camaraderie that can emerge, as demonstrated by Iheanacho’s intervention.
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