Gabriel Osho and Auxerre are enjoying a strong season in Ligue 1, currently sitting 15th in the standings after 15 matches.
The 26-year-old defender spent his entire career in England before making the move to France. He began his professional journey with Reading, where he made his debut in a 0-1 loss to Middlesbrough on December 22, 2018, earning the man of the match award.
Osho had loan spells at Maidenhead United and Aldershot Town before joining Bristol Rovers on loan for the remainder of the 2018-19 season.
In December 2019, he was loaned to Yeovil Town until early January 2020. With his Reading contract expiring in June 2020, he signed a short-term extension due to the COVID-19 pandemic but ultimately declined a new contract and left the club.
His career took off at Luton Town, where he established himself as a first-team player during the 2021-22 season with 26 appearances. He played a crucial role in the following season, scoring in the Championship play-off semi-final against Sunderland, helping Luton achieve promotion to the Premier League.
“It was good. It was different. Of course, the Championship is a very difficult gritty division. But it’s really good to win a 1-0 game, 1-0 away from home,” he told Flashscore in an interview facilitated by Ligue 1.
“I think we did that a lot. The season we got promoted, it was a really resolute and resilient team that got promoted. And then obviously going after the Premier League was very different. A lot faster. The games were a lot more a lot more cutthroat, a lot more ruthless, but I enjoyed every minute of it.”
After missing the beginning of the 2023/24 season through injury, Osho made his much anticipated Premier League debut in a 3–1 defeat at Aston Villa on October 29, 2023. The Nigerian played 26 games in the English top flight and says he lived his childhood dream.
“I think every kid when they're growing up wants to play in the Premier League. So to achieve that was amazing to me. Sometimes I even think about it now and I'm like, well, I can't believe I actually did that because that was what I set out to do pretty much all my life. So it was good to be able to achieve a life goal by 25.”
Luton Town were relegated from the Premier League after just one season, and Osho has since left the club. Despite his departure, he continues to follow Luton asthey struggle in 19th place in the Championship.
“I still watch every game. It's a team that did a lot for me. So, yeah, of course, I still have eyes on them.”
“Sometimes you go up to a good start and they go wrong afterwards. Sometimes you get to a bad start and, you know, it can change, but the quality is there in the Luton team. So I have no doubt that they'll turn around with the manager in charge as well.”
The defender is full of praise for Luton head coach Rob Edwards, crediting his progress to the Welsh manager.
“It was good. When Rob Edwards took over Luton it was bit of a turbulent time for me and he really helped me. He really put a lot of faith into me.
“I owe that to him and he's a nice guy and a good manager. I enjoyed working under him and I owe a lot of where I am today to him,” he added.
Now at Auxerre, Osho recently scored his first Ligue 1 goal, contributing to a thrilling 2-2 draw with RC Lens.
L'AJA have only lost one of their last eight games and are one of the most in-form teams in the French league.
“It's been a good start, but if you take the first five it probably wasn't as good. I think we found a way of playing now, and we've kind of locked in on the basics that we need to do in every game in order to get results and ensure that we perform to our level that we now set.”
“The manager set a clear plan and we followed it pretty much. So when you do that and you defend well, it gives you an incredible chance to win games and get something out of games. With the players that we have going forward, it's always possible because they are magnificent.”
Asked on the difference between the matchday atmospheres between England and France, Osho was awed by the sheer commitment of fans in the latter. “I think in terms of matchday atmosphere, the fans in France, they just sing constantly from throughout the game. There's rarely ups and downs. It's just always up throughout the whole game. The atmosphere has been very good since I've been here.”
Osho was born in England but was eligible to play for Nigeria through his parents. The defender was eager to play for the Super Eagles but missed on the first few call-ups due to injury.
“I think the NFF reached out the summer Luton got promoted. I think that was the summer of 2023. But, you know, they just said they were interested and they were looking.
“Unfortunately, I was injured from the start of that season until October or September. So I wasn't really available for the first two selections of that season.
When I started playing, I always wanted to get selected. I was just hoping and waiting for the call-up. And then finally, it did come in March but I got injured against Crystal Palace, so I wasn't able to make that squad which was very frustrating.”
On November 14, Osho finally had the opportunity to make his first appearance for the Nigeria national team playing against Benin, a moment that will stay with the defender for a while.
“It was special. I didn't know too much about the feeling of playing international football. So it was my first taste of being in an international camp and not only to go to the camp but also play. It was very special and overwhelming. Just a proud moment for me and my family.”
Settling in the Nigeria camp wasn’t as straightforward for Osho who admits he’s a “shy” person.
“In the first couple of days, I was just trying to get to grips with everything because I find it a bit awkward just talking to people I haven't met before but everyone was really welcoming.
Obviously, I had a couple mutual friends with a couple of the guys already there who play in England. A couple of guys that were playing in England. Guys like Ola Aina, Calvin Bassey, and Alex Iwobi. Everyone was really, really nice. As the camp went on, I became acquainted with everyone.”
Nigeria narrowly lost the last Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) to hosts Ivory Coast and Osho is targeting the ultimate in Morocco.
“I think maybe we just set our focus now towards the World Cup Qualifiers coming up and then also the AFCON. After the last AFCON, the only goal is to go one step further and win the competition. I think we have a good enough team. The quality in the team is probably the best in Africa. So now it's just time to show that on the big stage.”
The Super Eagles’ form in the World Cup qualifiers has been a sharp contrast to that of the AFCON. After four games, they have just three points and are four points off automatic qualification.
“I think we need to play the way that we can play and just play to our abilities, and I think we'll get there. Obviously, the qualification is a bit longer in this format, so we have time. We have games to turn it around. Everyone's really desperate to play in the World Cup.
"I'm sure that we'll do everything that we can, and God willing, we'll achieve the qualification,” Osho revealed.
