Young football enthusiast Tella Boluwatife has revealed his ambition to follow in the footsteps of Super Eagles striker Victor Osimhen and one day represent Nigeria at the highest level.
The promising youngster, who plays for Femmco Football Academy U-10, spoke with Sports247 during the academy’s camping programme in Ifo, Ogun State, where he shared the story behind his passion for football and the players who continue to inspire his dreams.
Boluwatife revealed that his love for football developed from a rather unusual childhood habit—kicking different objects on his way to school.
“I always kick several items on my way to school and my parents encourage me to play football. I have the passion to play football,” he told Sports247.
The youngster admitted that the habit became so strong that even an unfortunate encounter with an injured player could not completely stop him from expressing his love for the game.
“The day I saw an injured player was the day I wanted to have a change of thought, but I still couldn’t recover from not kicking items as usual,” he said.
Boluwatife prefers playing as a striker, a position that allows him to express his attacking instincts. His admiration for Argentine football legend Lionel Messi was also central to his decision to pursue the sport.
However, when it comes to Nigerian football, Victor Osimhen remains his major inspiration.
The Femmco youngster admires Osimhen’s goalscoring ability and sees the Super Eagles striker as an important role model for young footballers dreaming of making it professionally.
Boluwatife also has strong views about Osimhen’s potential club destination. The youngster would love to see the Nigerian striker join Arsenal, believing a partnership with England international Bukayo Saka could produce positive results.
“I wish Victor Osimhen joins Arsenal because the link with Bukayo Saka as a winger will help him and the team a lot,” he explained.
A big fan of Saka himself, Boluwatife said he would be delighted to meet the Arsenal star and personally have a conversation with him.
Ultimately, however, the youngster’s biggest dream is wearing Nigeria’s colours.
“I dream of playing for my country like Victor Osimhen,” he declared.
For now, Boluwatife’s journey remains at the grassroots level, where training, discipline and development will shape his future.
But with the encouragement of his parents, the platform provided by Femmco Football Academy and the inspiration of players such as Messi, Osimhen and Saka, the young striker is already dreaming beyond Ifo.
The ambition is clear: from kicking objects on the way to school to one day kicking a football for Nigeria.
