I Was Cleaning Gutters for ₦20, Osimhen Recounts Tough Lagos Childhood

Nigerian football star and Napoli striker, Victor Osimhen, has opened up about his humble beginnings, revealing that he once cleaned gutters for as little as ₦20 and fetched water for ₦80 to help support his family while growing up in Lagos.

The Super Eagles forward made the emotional revelation during a recent chat with fellow Nigerian international, William Troost-Ekong, where he detailed the struggles he faced as a child living in Olusosun, a densely populated slum near one of Africa’s largest dumpsites.

“I remember when I was growing up, I was cleaning the gutter for ₦20, sometimes ₦30. I did some cleaning jobs for my neighbours. I also fetched water for ₦80,” Osimhen recounted.

Despite the hardship, Osimhen said he found value in those experiences, adding that they taught him responsibility and discipline early on in life.

“I found pleasure in doing these things, not just because of the money, but because it made me feel useful. I became conscious about how I spent that money — always thinking of how to contribute to my family.”

Osimhen grew up in a family that, like many others in Olusosun, lived day to day. His siblings also worked to help make ends meet — one sold newspapers, another hawked oranges, while he sold bottled water to motorists in traffic.

“I was running after moving cars under the hot sun to sell water. Sometimes it was risky, but that was our reality,” he said.

Neighbours from his childhood recall him as helpful and diligent, always ready to run errands in exchange for a small token.

“He was respectful and hardworking. We all used to send him to buy things and we would give him ₦10 or ₦20 for helping,” said one former neighbour.

Victor Osimhen’s football career took off when he led Nigeria’s Golden Eaglets to victory at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile, where he finished as the tournament’s top scorer with 10 goals.

Following that, his career soared with stints at Wolfsburg (Germany), Charleroi (Belgium), and Lille (France) before signing for Napoli in 2020 for a then-record African transfer fee.

His remarkable rise from street hawker to football hero has become a symbol of hope for many young Nigerians.

Public figures, fans, and community leaders have praised Osimhen’s honesty and resilience. *Former presidential candidate Peter Obi described him as a “true Nigerian story,” noting that his life shows what young people can achieve if given the opportunity and support.

On social media, fans from Nigeria to Italy have hailed Osimhen as not just a top striker, but an inspiration.

“From selling water in Lagos traffic to scoring goals in Serie A—it’s like a movie script,” one admirer wrote on Reddit.

“He never forgot where he came from. You see it in the way he gives back to the community and stays humble,” another added.

Today, Osimhen remains one of Africa’s most celebrated footballers, known not only for his sharp goal-scoring ability but also for his humility and connection to his roots. His story continues to inspire millions of young Nigerians who face similar struggles.

“Everything I’ve been through shaped me,” he said. “I don’t regret any of it. It made me who I am.”

From washing gutters to gracing the world’s biggest football stages, Victor Osimhen’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, hard work, and hope.