By Wale Mustapha
African football icon and former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba has heaped praise on Victor Osimhen, saying the Nigerian star reminds him of his own playing style and should serve as an inspiration to young Africans.
Drogba made the remarks in a chat with Sporty TV, following Osimhen’s sensational hat-trick in Nigeria’s 4–0 win over Benin Republic during the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in Uyo—a victory that sealed the Super Eagles’ place in the CAF playoff round.
“Because of him, people from Ivory Coast complain and tell me to go with my Osimhen,” Drogba joked.
“Osimhen is the kind of person that should inspire the youth—he came from nowhere and then he’s successful.”
The Ivorian legend, widely regarded as one of Africa’s greatest-ever strikers, acknowledged Osimhen’s journey from humble beginnings to becoming one of Europe’s elite forwards, likening it to his own rise in the game.
Osimhen’s powerful playing style, aerial prowess, and leadership on the pitch have often drawn comparisons to Drogba, who dominated the Premier League with Chelsea and led Ivory Coast for over a decade.
Now a key figure for Galatasaray and the Super Eagles, Osimhen continues to attract global attention, not only for his scoring ability but for his resilience and inspirational story.
With Nigeria set to face Gabon in next month’s crucial CAF playoff semi-final in Morocco, Osimhen is expected to play a pivotal role as the Super Eagles chase a ticket to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Samuel Ahmadu is a distinguished multimedia journalist and women's football expert with over 15 years of experience in the industry. On the back of domestic engagement since 2008, he began his international career journey at Goal.com in February 2014, where he served as an African women's football correspondent for nearly eight years. During his tenure at Goal.com, Samuel covered major events such as three Women's Africa Cup of Nations (2016, 2018, 2022) and the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup in Canada plus 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. His work at Goal.com earned him widespread acclaim, particularly for his in-depth profiles of African football stars, notably Asisat Oshoala, whose rise he documented from her early years to her breakthrough at the FIFA U20 Women's World Cup in 2014. Prior to his role at Goal.com, Samuel freelanced for various print and broadcast media outlets in Nigeria, including Graphics Newspaper, Radio Nigeria, Grace FM, and Savid Newspaper. His extensive experience and expertise led to his appointment to the Nigeria Football Federation's Standing Committee on Women's Football Development from 2016 to 2018. Since February 2018, Samuel has been the Social Media Manager for Nigeria's women's national teams.In 2019, Samuel joined the Confederation of African Football (CAF) as a women's football content contributor and was promoted to Women's Football Editor in 2021. His contributions to women's football continued as he worked as a Media Consultant for Content Creation and Editorials at the 2022 CAF Women's Champions League. Currently, Samuel also serves as the spokesman for the Nigeria Women Football League, further solidifying his influence and dedication to the growth of women's football in Africa.
