The August 2023 transfer window had Gift Orban, the Nigerian striker, with Gent FC, Belgium, as probably the most sought after ‘’unknown striker’’ by virtually every big club in Europe. The buzz remained until the new season began, yet nothing happened! They saw his speed, strength and finishing, yet they deterred, for some obvious reasons which could favor Orban on the long run!
On the 15th March 2023, Gift Orban scored a first-half hat-trick in his club’s 4–1 away win over Istanbul Başakşehir in the round 16 of the European Conference League. The hat-trick was scored within three minutes and 25 seconds, setting a new record for the fastest hat-trick in UEFA club competitions, and broke the previous record of six minutes and 12 seconds held by Mohammed Salah in the UEFA Champions League. This feat set European clubs on the lookout for him!Gift Orban: From Lagos to Norway
He came into Europe through the back door, like many other players from Africa, who had not built a strong profile for themselves before being discovered. He was scouted, November 2021, in Lagos-Nigeria, during a local competition by two Norwegian officials from Stabaek FC of Norway, Torgier Biarman and Thomas Finstag. Within the same season he started with Stabaek FC, he won the Norwegian First Division top scorer and Norwegian First Division Young Player of the Year, 2022 awards. It was no mean feat for such a raw talent!
His exploits in Norway attracted Gent FC, of Belgium, and by January 2023, Gift Orban, was on his way to Belgium. On his move to Belgium, he enthused;
The new environment did not stop his goal rain; rather it increased to further send several tongues wagging! According to football analyst, Joe Lennox, Gift Orban once broached the thought of joining the Nigerian Police, due to the crawling pace of his football, but now things quickly changed. Last season, he scored 20 goals + and led his club to another European qualification.
As the January 2024 transfer season beckons, it’s likely that Gift Orban would again attract the same attention like the he did in August. The club scouts have watched and analyzed his attributes.
The Hurdle Before Gift Orban
What he needs this season is to be able to match or better his last season’s performance. With this, potential suitors would become extremely convinced about his qualities and capabilities to adapt at a better level than he’s done in the smaller leagues in Norway and Belgium. He would surely cost higher now, and remains an attractive option to solve the goal scoring problem of any big club in the leagues of England, Germany and Spain. One does not expect Gent FC to stand on his way, once any concrete financial offer comes their way, since this would be good business for them. Like other Nigerian football players who’d taken this path, Gift Orban would certainly excel!
