Nigerian and Lille striker Victor Osimhen has lost his father the player has confirmed.

Mr. Patrick Osimhen, 80, died in Lagos on Saturday night after a brief illness.

Osimhen wrote, “RIP dad, no words to describe this feeling.”

The Nigeria Football Federation has reached out to Super Eagles’ forward, expressing grief and a groundswell of sorrow among the Nigerian Football family over the passing of the patriarch of the Osimhen family.

President of the Nigeria Football Federation, Mr. Amaju Melvin Pinnick was the first to reach out to the player following the outbreak of the sad news, and he assured the former U17 World Cup winner of the empathy and support of the country’s football family at this challenging moment for the youngster and his family.

“I have spoken to Victor Osimhen and expressed the sorrow of the NFF and the entire Nigerian Football family. His club, Lille OSC of France have given him a private aircraft to come to Nigeria to be with his family and probably for the burial rites. We have applied for landing permit but we are yet to get this. However, we are still on it and hopeful for the sake of the young lad.

“The loss of either parent is usually a moment of heartbreak for anyone. We condole with Victor (Osimhen) at this moment and pray that God will grant his late father eternal rest, while also granting the family the fortitude to bear the great loss.”

The striker is one of the most exciting prospects in Nigerian Football and is a sought after talent in Europe. Osimhen has scored 19 goals in all competitions for Lille OSC this season, sparkling interest from top teams in England, Spain, Italy and Germany for his services.