Nigeria U23 Star Osimhen Silences His Critics: A Lot Of People Wrote Me Off Last Season

Victor Osimhen came in for criticism over his struggles at German Bundesliga club Wolfsburg last term but it's now clear that he has finally gotten his mojo back following his outstanding displays for club and country.

The Ultimate Strikers Academy product was vital for the Dream Team VII on Monday as they hammered Libya 4-0 to qualify for the final round of the U23 AFCON qualifiers, with the Sporting Charleroi striker notching a hat-trick and providing an assist for David Okereke.

Things were looking bleak for Osimhen in the summer transfer window after proposed moves to Club Brugge and Zulte-Waregem broke down.

Sporting Charleroi took a gamble on the ex-Golden Eaglets star and he has repaid the faith shown in him with an impressive 12 goals in 25 Belgian First Division A matches.

''Last year I had a very difficult season with Wolfsburg and a lot of people wrote me off and I think this made me to step up my game, step up to the challenges,'' said Victor Osimhen.

''Of course my form with my new club is important for me and I think I was able to justify myself with the club.

''Now I have the confidence in as much as I know where I am going to and I want to continue to improve and learn as a young player.

''I have more to prove and more to learn and I just want to continue like this.''

Osimhen has returned to Belgium after international duty with Nigeria and is in contention to be named in the Sporting Charleroi squad against Sint-Truiden on Sunday.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel