Auxerre defender Gabriel Osho (26) recently shared his journey in France, his time in the Premier League with Luton Town and his involvement with the Nigeria national team.
Currently, Gabriel Osho and Auxerre are enjoying a positive season in Ligue 1, occupying 15th place in the table after 15 matches.
Before joining France, Osho built his career in England. His professional journey began at Reading, where he made his debut in a 0-1 defeat to Middlesbrough on December 22, 2018, winning the player of the match award.
He was loaned successively to Maidenhead United and Aldershot Town before joining, on loan, Bristol Rovers for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
In December 2019, he signed with Yeovil Town until the start of January 2020. With his contract with Reading expiring in June 2020, he extended his contract on a short-term basis due to the pandemic. However, he ultimately declined a new contract offer and left the club.
His career took off again at Luton Town, where he established himself as a starter during the 2021-22 season, making 26 appearances. He was instrumental the following season, scoring a goal in the Championship play-off semi-final against Sunderland, helping Luton's promotion to the Premier League.
“It was great. It was different. The Championship is a very competitive division. To win an away match 1-0 is really gratifying,” he said in an interview with Flashscore.
“We have often experienced this type of victory. The team that was promoted was determined and resilient. And then obviously moving to the Premier League was a massive change. The matches are much faster, more intense, but I loved every minute,” he added, recalling his experience.
After missing the start of the 2023/24 season due to injury, Osho finally made his Premier League debut, in a 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa on October 29, 2023. The Nigerian defender claims to have achieved his childhood dream.
“Every child dreams of playing in the Premier League. To have achieved this feat is fantastic for me. Sometimes I still think about that moment and say, 'I can't believe I achieved this dream,' because it's what I've wanted my whole life. Reaching this goal at age 25 was very special,” he explained.
After just one season in the Premier League, Luton Town were relegated, and Osho left the club. Nevertheless, he continues to monitor the performances of Luton, who are currently struggling in 19th place in the Championship.
“I continue to watch all the matches. It’s a team that meant a lot to me, so yes, I keep an eye on them,” he confirmed.
“Sometimes we have a good start and then the performances collapse. Other times we start off poorly and can pick ourselves up. But I believe in the quality of this team, and I am convinced that they can come back strong with the right coach,” he added.
Osho also praised Luton coach Rob Edwards, highlighting his progress under his leadership.
“It was an enriching moment. When Rob Edwards took over, I was going through a difficult phase, and he was very supportive. He had a lot of confidence in me. I owe him a lot because he is an extraordinary person and a good coach. I really enjoyed working with him,” he declared.
Now at Auxerre, Osho recently scored his first Ligue 1 goal, assisting in a thrilling 2-2 draw against RC Lens.
Auxerre have lost just one of their last eight matches, showing themselves to be one of the most in-form teams in the French league.
“We started well, but if you look at our first five games, it was pretty disappointing. Now I think we have found our rhythm and we know what we need to do to get results,” he explained.
“The coach has a clear plan in place that we try to follow. When we defend well, we have a good chance of winning. With the attackers we have, it is always possible, because they are excellent,” he concluded.
Asked about the match day atmosphere in France compared to that in England, Osho was impressed by the commitment of the French fans. “In terms of atmosphere, the fans in France sing continuously during the match. There is no downtime. The atmosphere has always been great since I have been here,” he declared.
Although he was born in England, Osho's parents have Nigerian nationality. The defender was eager to play for the Super Eagles but was unable to take part in the start of the trials due to injury.
“I think the NFF contacted me in the summer Luton got promoted. They only let me know that they were interested. Unfortunately, I was injured at the start of the season, so I was not available for the first two call-ups,” he shared.
“Once I started playing, I always wanted to be selected. I was waiting for the summons. She finally arrived in March, but I got injured in a match against Crystal Palace so I couldn't take part, which was very frustrating. he added.
On November 14, Osho finally made his debut for the Nigerian team against Benin, a moment he will not soon forget.
“It was special. I didn't really know the feeling of playing international football. It was the first time I had this feeling of playing at this level. It was filled with emotion and pride for me and my family,” he confessed.
Adapting to the Nigerian setting was not easy for Osho, who describes himself as a rather “shy” person.
“In the first days, I was trying to get used to everything, because I sometimes find it a bit strange to talk to people I don't know. But everyone was very welcoming. I even had friends in common with some players who were already playing in England, like Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey and Alex Iwobi. Everyone was really friendly, and as the course progressed, I became more familiar with everyone,” he said.
Nigeria recently narrowly failed to win the last edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) against Ivory Coast, and Osho is keeping an eye on the upcoming final in Morocco.
“We must now focus on the qualifiers for the World Cup as well as the CAN. After the last competition, our goal is to progress and triumph. I think we have enough talent. The quality of our team is probably the best in Africa. It’s time to assert it on the big stage,” he concluded.
The Super Eagles' journey in the World Cup qualifiers contrasts sharply with the CAN precedent. After four matches, the Nigerian selection has only three points and is four points from automatic qualification.
“We have to play according to our abilities. I am confident we can do it. Qualification is longer in this format, so we have time. We have matches that will allow us to rectify the situation. Everyone is keen to participate in the World Cup, and I am sure we will do everything we can. God willing, we will qualify,” he revealed.
– Gabriel Osho began his professional career at Reading in 2018 before joining several clubs on loan.
– He played a key role in Luton Town's promotion to the Premier League in 2022.
– Osho recently scored his first Ligue 1 goal with Auxerre during a match against RC Lens.
– The player feels great commitment to the Nigerian team and aims to contribute to future success in international competitions.
– The atmosphere of the game in France particularly impressed Osho with the energy of the supporters.
This interview with Gabriel Osho allows us to see the ambitions of an athlete in search of recognition, both within his club and with his national team. His passion for football, combined with his recent experiences in the championship, raises the question of the development of young talents on an international scale and their ability to overcome barriers to find a place on the world stage. What steps should be taken to provide players like Osho with better opportunities on the big stages of football?
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