Ex-Man United boss picks Osimhen and Salah as Africa’s finest football talents

Super Eagles' Victor Osimhen recently joined Turkish giants Galatasaray on a season-long loan from Napoli

Former Manchester United manager, Jose Mourinho, has singled out Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen and Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah as Africa’s finest football talents, Soccernet.ng reports.

Osimhen claimed the prestigious 2023 African Footballer of the Year award, edging out Salah following a sensational season for Napoli, where his stellar performances helped the Italian club win their first Scudetto in 33 years.

In a conversation with Turkish media outlet HT Sports, the Portuguese tactician discussed his admiration for Osimhen, recalling a memorable exchange with the striker during his time as AS Roma manager, when his side faced Napoli.

“I just don’t like the way he [Victor Osimhen] behaves sometimes. He throws himself down a lot,” Mourinho admitted. “The last time we were opponents, I told him, ‘You are one of the two best African players, along with [Mohamed] Salah.’ He’s a great player for Galatasaray and the Super Lig.”

Osimhen has recently made headlines with his loan move to Turkish Süper Lig giants Galatasaray from Napoli. Mourinho sees this as a major coup for both Galatasaray and the Turkish league, as Osimhen’s talent promises to elevate the competition.

The Nigerian forward wasted no time making an impact, netting his first goal since May during Nigeria’s opening Africa Cup of Nations qualification clash against Benin Republic. Osimhen will be eager to maintain that momentum as Galatasaray prepares to take on Rizespor in three days.

Ayomide Oguntimehin

Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and an Editor at Soccernet.ng, with a proven track record in conducting interviews with Super Eagles stars such as William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, Ademola Lookman, and many others. He has also made a significant impact in breaking transfer news stories. Grounded in video editing, video journalism, social media management, and content strategy, Ayomide brings a wealth of expertise to his work. With a Bachelor's degree in English Language from Adeyemi College of Education and a Master's Degree in School Library and Media Technology from the University of Ibadan, Ayomide is well-prepared to excel in the field.

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