‘He is an exceptional player’ – Jose Peseiro backs Victor Osimhen for Ballon d’Or gong

By Saheed Afolabi

Nigeria coach, Jose Peseiro believes Super Eagles forward Victor Osimhen is a potential Ballon d’Or winner.

The former Lille striker is enjoying an incredible run of form in the Italian Serie A following his contributions for Napoli this season, scoring 19 goals in 22 domestic league games with the Gli Azzurri.

Fascinated by his superb form, the Portuguese tactician the 24-year-old has the qualities of a great and influential player who can deliver for any club in the world.

“Victor Osimhen is an exceptional player. He has all the qualities of a great striker, and he can play for any top club in the world, whether in the Premier League or elsewhere,” Pesiero told media in Naples.

“I don’t know if he’ll win the Ballon d’Or, but I’ll say this: he’ll certainly win the top scorer (award) many times. Because he has an impressive scoring ability.

“And not only that, the qualities that impress me about him are more and more. He greatly helps the team, frees up space, makes assists, and defends.

“Italy is a good school because your strikers participate a lot in the defensive phase. Everyone does it, but Osimhen does it very, very well. He’s a beast, an animal.”

The Ballon D’Or is an annual award initiated by French news magazine and it has gone on to be one of the most sought after individual honors in Football.

Liberia President, George Weah remains the only African Footballer to win the award during his professional career.