Osimhen Receives Motherly Blessings During Visit to Ighalo’s Lagos Home

Nigeria striker Victor Osimhen paid a heartfelt visit on Friday to the Lagos residence of former Nigeria international Odion Ighalo, in a moment that reflected strong cultural bonds and enduring personal connections within Nigerian football.

During the visit, Ighalo’s mother offered emotional prayers for Osimhen, asking for sustained success in his career while specifically blessing his legs against injuries, a symbolic gesture deeply rooted in Nigerian family values and tradition.

Both forwards share similar life journeys, rising from modest beginnings in Lagos to global football recognition. Osimhen developed his early football skills in Olusosun, while Ighalo’s story began in Ajegunle, with both players later representing Nigeria at the highest level.

They also share ancestral ties to Edo State, further strengthening their connection beyond football.

Osimhen, currently enjoying a short break from club duties with Galatasaray S.K., has been in Nigeria following an intense run of fixtures across domestic and continental competitions.

The visit comes shortly after an emotional tribute in Istanbul, where Galatasaray supporters honoured the striker’s late mother, Christianah, ahead of a UEFA Champions League clash against Liverpool F.C..

Fans unveiled a giant banner depicting Osimhen and his mother alongside the message, “We are family, and family is everything.”

The Nigerian forward was visibly moved by the gesture, shedding tears before providing an assist in Galatasaray’s 1–0 victory later that evening.

Osimhen has continued an outstanding 2025/26 campaign, playing a pivotal role for both club and country with influential performances in the Turkish Süper Lig, UEFA Champions League, and international competitions with the Super Eagles.

Samuel Ahmadu

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.

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