Prior to Wednesday’s CAF U23 African Nations Cup qualifier against Guinea in Abuja, a team official for the Nigeria U23 national team has announced that in-form Gent striker Gift Emmanuel Orban has been extended an invitation to join the team.
Orban is a striker for the Belgian team Gent and was born in Nigeria on July 17, 2002.
This past week, the 20-year-old Nigerian player scored a hat-trick for Gent against Istanbul in a UEFA Europa Conference League match in 3 minutes, 24 seconds.
The fastest hat-trick in an European clubs competition has ever been achieved. He is the Conference League’s youngest hat-trick scorer.
With 18 goals in 23 appearances for Norwegian First Division club Stabaek FC in the 2021/22 season and 12 goals in 9 games for Belgian Division One side Gent, he has shown he is not a one-hit wonder.
The Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) invited international players to join the Olympic Team on Tuesday, but Orban’s name was not included. However, after he scored the fastest hat trick in the European club championship, the federation invited him to strengthen the team’s squad.
The opening leg of the CAF U23 African Nations Cup qualifier between the Nigeria U23 Eagles and the Guinea U23 squad will be played on Wednesday at the Moshood Abiola Stadium in Abuja, with the return match taking place a few days later.
The winners of the two matches between Nigeria and Guinea will advance to the CAF U23 AFCON finals.
